projects

Since 2016, we have been an accredited hosting organization for the  Erasmus+ program and have joined the European Solidarity Corps (ESC). The European Voluntary Service (EVS) is part of the European Solidarity Corps program supported by the European Commission.

The European Solidarity Corps program was set up by the European Union to give young people the opportunity to take part in voluntary or professional projects of public interest in their own or in foreign countries. The program is open to young people between the ages of 17 and 30, and participating in it is an excellent opportunity to learn languages, learn about other cultures, to become independent, and build international relationships. The program offers an adventure filled with plently of joyful and exciting days, as well as new challenges and many unexpected situations that its participants will need to learn to face.

Intercultural biking for helping – the project of Budapest Bike Maffia

Our project “Intercultural biking for helping” was implemented within the European Union Erasmus + program. From March 2018, for 9 months, foreign volunteers has helped and enriched our work within the project EVS. The volunteers: Ronja Bober, Ilona Lyytinen and Elizabeta Ružičić came from Germany, Finland and Croatia respectively. They took part in our projects and has enriched the work of Bike Maffia with their many ideas and their fresh approach.

In March 2019 our program was selected by the European Commission as a great example to present to the European Parliament. This has allowed us the opportunity to attend the European Youth Week in Brussels on 29-30 April 2019. In addition to being present at the event, we were given the chance to present our project in person to over 800 people during a plenary session.

The Team:
Ildikó Tóth – Project Manager

Coordinators and helpers of the „Intercultural biking for helping” project:
Zoltán Havasi, Rózsa Kiss, Ágnes Pakot, Andrea Pintér, Gábor Priksz, András Tóth 

Our volunteers:
Ronja Bober (Germany) 2018. March 5 – November 4.
Ilona Lyytinen (Finnland) 2018. March 4 – May 3.
Elizabeta Ružičić (Croatia) 2018. June 4 – December 3.

If you have any questions about the project or if you would like to join us, contact Ildi at ildiko.toth@bikemaffia.com!

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Homelessness is a condition; a situation that many people just fall into, either by their own fault or due to unforeseen circumstances. If it persist, it can significantly impair the mental health, social skills, and chances of workplace reintegration of the homeless person.

Our goal is to create space in a homeless shelter for community activities that can provide a more dignified, pleasant environment for the people living there. Joint activities strengthen the community and the social and coping abilities of their participants, provide motivation, energy, a sense of accomplishment, and raise the quality of life for the residents, which can contribute to the success of their reintegration into the majority society.

We are designing a community garden at the Táblás Street Shelter of BMSZKI (Budapest Methodological Centre of Social Policy and Its Institutions) where residents can relax, chat, garden or play sports. A ping pong table, a chess and card table, a petanque and tetherball court, outdoor cooking area, barbecue grill, and a foil tent for growing plants throughout the year will provide spots for relaxation, exercise and useful activities. (Plans may vary depending on their feasibility.)

The secondary purpose of the leisure park is to allow on-site CSR programs, team building trainings for employees of a company or organization to visit the shelter’s residents in their own living space if they wish to help or to organize a joint activity with them. We plan to host the Budapest Bike Maffia Teambuilding Project at this shelter, a venue where corporate volunteers and shelter residents can cook and grill together and get to know each other.

The Team:
Zsuzsa Mátraházi – Project Manage

If you have any questions about the project, contact Zsuzsa (at zsuzsa.matrahazi@bikemaffia.com)!

Photo by: Júlia Halász

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Budapest is home to many of us. We have our favourite spots: a favorite bench on Margaret Island, the street we ride down every day, or the corner where we meet before a Friday night out. But how do people for whom these places are literally their home see the city?

In 2016, we have joined the team of the London-based Café Art and with their support we have launched the MyBudapest Photo Project – a photo competition for homeless people. With Fujifilm Hungary as our sponsor and with the help of our volunteers, we gave disposable cameras to the participants so through their photos they can show us the city the way they see it. From the entries, a jury of professionals selects 50 artworks that we exhibit at a public square, then the audience selects 12 + 1 pictures that will be featured in next years’ MyBudapest’s calendar, alongside with their creators’ stories.

By purchasing the calendar you support homeless creators – since the profits from the calendar’s sales go directly to the winners. In addition to providing them financial support, the competition offers its participants an opportunity to showcase their everyday lives, their talents, to experience the joy of creation and creativity, to gain attention and recognition, and find their way back into society. Last but not least: the project aims to provide a deeper insight into the world of homeless people, to raise awareness of homelessness and to reduce the stereotypes surrounding it.

Our partners:
BMSZKI (Budapest Methodological Centre of Social Policy and Its Institutions)
Hungarian Red Cross Budapest

A special thanks for their prominent support to:
Erika Gácsfalvi and Árpád Varga (Fujifilm Hungary Kft.),
The Council of Budapest VII.district Erzsébetváros
Fanni Jónás and Eszter Boros (Well PR Kft.),
Magenta-R Kft,
Gabriella Csoszó (photographer, activist, teacher),
Suelto Bistro,

And to the volunteers of Budapest Bike Maffia who ensure the project’s success by their administrative work, graphic design, and who support and document the event.

The Team:
Bernadett Fekete –  Project Manager
Hajnalka Merc – Distribution
Zsuzska Molnár – Project Coordinator

If you have any questions, contact Detti at the email address bernadett.fekete@bikemaffia.com !

You do not have a Bike Maffia calendar yet? Visit our webshop or buy the calendar at any of the below venues!

Fian Koncept, Fiók, Fuga, Kiscelli Múzeumshop, Konfekció, Massolit Books & Café, MúzeumShop, Műcsarnok Art Box, NOS, Örkény Pont, Szimpla Design Shop. You can also pick up products ordered at MúzeumShop at free pick-up points (Hungarian National Gallery, Museum of Fine Arts, Vasarely Museum)

For news and events of the  MyBudapest Photo Project follow our Facebook page and Instagram!

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In April of 2016 we have started our ‘+1 Sandwich – students for the needy’ project. The aim of of this project is to work together with students to help the lives of homeless people and the work of those day and night shelters who cannot provide enough food for their residents. Therefore, we ask students to once a week bring an extra sandwich to school. The food that we collect this way is then transported to homeless shelters by a courier

We think it important to show the power of the “many small streams will form a large river” principle, to show the power of unity. If enough people donate, even just one sandwich each could be enough to provide significant support to large groups of people in need. Thanks to the program, each month an average of 4,000 sandwiches, 60 kg of fruit, 40 kg of non-perishable food and occasionally soft drinks and toiletries are delivered to homeless people. About 35-40 school participate yearly in regular collection for our project and we are happy to report that thanks to our good reputation and successes, since 2019 not only primary and secondary schools, but also kindergartens, universities and companies have been joining in our efforts.

Our goals include sensitizing young people, keeping in touch with schools and promoting volunteering. We wish for the students, parents and educators participating in the +1 Sandwich project to become a strong, supportive community. To this end in 2017 we have started our +1XTRA Program wherein our volunteer speakers visit participating schools and hold interactive presentations discussing prejudice and homelessness and introducing the work of Bike Maffia.

The Team:
Éva Svébis – Project Manager
Péter Laki – Courier

If you have any questions or you would like to join our project, contact Éva ( at pluszegyszendvics@bikemaffia.com) or fill out our FORM.

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