MISZSZ - Union of Hungarian Youth Organizations of Romania (MISZSZ)

Organization:

MISZSZ was formed after the fall of the comunism in Romania as a need for the existing Hungarian youth organizations to have a national organization which represents them on national and international level. At that time we had thousands of members, but in time the atmosphere of democracy and freedom has been evaporated and the enthusiasm of the youngsters dissapeared. Today we have about 12.000 members from which active are about 2000, from all of our 17 member organizations. The Hungarians from Romania represent one of the most largest European minorities. At the last recensus, made in 1992, the number of those who said they are Hungarians was 1.624.959 (7,1% of the population of Romania). The relationship with the majority depdends from region to region. Romania officially recognises 18 ethnic minorities living in Romania. Financial support from the state is only for the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania, which is an organization that politically represents the Hungarians in Romania. All NGOs can have funding from state institutions through their projects. There are kindergartens, schools, services, radio station, magazines and other media for the Hungarian minority, but of course there are some regulations under law and unfortunately not all the laws regarding the minorities in Romania are respected.