Hungary launches volunteer program for abandoned infants

The Érintők organization has launched a pre-registration phase for a volunteer program aimed at providing human contact to infants in Hungarian hospitals. Starting August 19, the initiative seeks to recruit volunteers who, after undergoing selection and training, will regularly spend time with babies who lack parental care.

Currently, several hundred healthy infants in Hungary are spending their first weeks or months in hospital wards due to a lack of available space in the child protection system. The program emphasizes that gentle touch, hugging, and rocking are biological necessities that stabilize vital functions, strengthen the immune system, and aid digestion.

Organizers aim to establish a nationwide network and are looking for at least 5,000 applicants to ensure approximately 4,500 trained volunteers can participate. The initiative focuses on long-term commitment rather than one-time visits to ensure consistent emotional and physical presence for the infants.