The crew at the African Hungarian Union (AHU) and the organisers of the Budapest-Bamako Rally have been working together since 2008. This is the 9th time we have set out on this race where the participants visit Morocco, Mauritania and Mali.
In 2016 AHU still manages the humanitarian side of the race, collecting, coordinating and distributing the donations offered by participants. Just like in past years, the donations will be given to educational, social and medical facilities in the visited countries.
Our charity work follows the objectives established by the UN in 2000, widely known as Millennium Development Goals. Countries signing the Millennium Declaration, including Hungary, agreed to, according to their abilities, collaborate in order to end severe poverty and hunger in the world, provide basic education for everyone, reduce infant mortality and combat the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases until 2015. In keeping with these goals, the charity work done by Budapest-Bamako Rally 2016 focuses on three areas:
Medical Facilities
Medical care in Africa is really uncertain. Qualified physicians and nurses are lacking, the available instruments are obsolete and, due to overcrowding, hospitals can only treat really urgent cases. Issues like these are especially prevalent in really poor countries like Mauritania or Mali.
In Mauritania there are 7000 patients for every physician which is 22 times the Hungarian average.
Based on this, the fact that in this area the average life expectancy is between 50 and 60 is not at all surprising. Obviously, these circumstances necessitate immediate measures in these countries and the international community also has to take part in taking these steps. This is what the UN Millennium Declaration states.
Of course, in addition to the countries of the world the non-governmental actors, providing development aid and individual donors also play a major role. At the 2016 Budapest Bamako Rally the participants, once again, get the opportunity to give their donations where it's most needed in an organised and direct manner.
Educational Facilities
In addition to issues in medicine, we shouldn't forget about the challenges African education faces. The lack of financial and human resources prove to be great difficulty to the field. There are not enough teachers and places fit for teaching.
Buildings used as schools are often in disrepair and a significant portion of them are not suitable for teaching or learning. There are no desks, chairs, blackboards and in some cases not even electricity or drinking water. It is often difficult for students to acquire school supplies. A notebook or pen is a real treasure at these places.
The second goal of the Millennium Development Goals is to make free school available for every school-age child in the world by 2015. Thanks to the countries signing the Declaration the situation has got better since then but help is still much needed. The lives of hundreds of African students would be easier if they had school supplies.
Social facilities
The third important goal of Budapest Bamako Rally 2016 is supporting social facilities. Among these nursing, residential and rehabilitation facilities are the most significant. There are plenty of children that lost their families in violent conflicts in the past or were raped. These children get, or rather, could get help in orphanages or other residential facilities. Unfortunately these facilities are few and far and the ones that are there are badly equipped. These children are probably the ones that need help the most.
What is really needed:
Computer, laptop: can be used but should still be in working condition
School supplies: desk, school bag, notebook, pen, pencil, pencil sharpener, crayon, colour pencil, marker, paper, scissors, cello tape
Food: flour, sugar, salt, canned foods, cookies, preserved and solid foods
Clothing (for every age group): T-shirt, sweater, trouser, skirt, bandana, baseball cap (in sizes for boys, girls and adults) – clean, preferably sorted into bags by on age
Child care: baby carrier, washable diapers, plastic bathtub, plastic and glass nursing bottle, bib, baby scale
Shoes: plastic slippers, sandals, enclosed shoes
Hygiene: toilet paper, towel, tooth paste, tooth brush, nail clipper
Sewing machine
Iron, ironing board
Glasses: all dioptres are welcome, should be in working condition
Flashlight, portable radio
Plastic dishes: plate, glass, bowl, utensils
Used but working unlocked mobile phone
PAY ATTENTION!
If you bring any medicine, note in English or French what it’s used for and what the recommended daily dose is. With medicine donations don’t bring medicine that’s 1 year or less from going bad, the health regulations could be strict.
Don’t forget that plastic cans and bottles can be invaluable for transporting and storing water!
For more information contact the African Hungarian Union, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
IMPORTANT!
Remember that after the end of the rally and after unpacking the vehicles and the hotel rooms, lots of useful things can be left behind that might later be needed by the facilities we’re trying to help! Don’t leave spare hygiene equipment (soap, body wash), clothes, household objects in the hotel. If you sell your vehicle don’t leave the spare bungee cord, kitchen equipment, plates, blankets, cutlery for the buyer either (unless he bought that too) bring it along with you and we’ll see where it’s most needed. Remember that plastic cans and bottles are invaluable for transporting and storing water!
CONTACT PERSON:
Dorottya Horváth: mobile: +36 20 623 9440; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Please bring your donations to the AHU office after arranging it in advance by phone between 9 am and 5 pm:
African Hungarian Union
1023 Budapest, Rómer Flóris utca 55.
IMPORTANT!!! Please unseal your boxes before bringing them in. We review them and keep a record. Of course you don’t have to have a box you can bring in the donation and we can pack and seal it together.
For regularly updated information please subscribe to our newsletter at www.ahu.hu
Together we can achieve great things!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Humanitarian Program?
The targeted region, laid out by the African Hungarian Union is a region where aid and development is needed the most: The donations are distributed in the schools, hospitals and health institutions of the countries the rally passes through (Morocco, Mauritania and Mali).
Why is it important?
As the professional partner of the Budapest-Bamako Agency we took on the task of evaluating the real needs and necessities of the facilities we deemed worthy. Following this we made a list that we recommend the donors follow during the rally, which is important so that we can provide real help.
What is worth bringing as a donation?
In general school supplies, clothes (if possible separated by age, clean and packed), medical supplies, medicine, dry food, toys are good donations. A bigger list can be read above.
What is not?
A Teddy bear, half a pair of socks, stretched out, faded, knitted clothes, torn shoes, a pen that has ran out of ink, canned food past its expiration date, “szaloncukor” (Christmas candy), unusable broken equipment etc. We think it important to provide useful help, don’t gather up any old junk at home thinking that it will be useful in Africa…
Can AHU provide a tax certificate?
Yes, as a public benefit organization AHU can provide a deed of gift, the scale of assistance as expenditure decreases the rateable value; lasting assistance further decreases it by 20%.
Is medicine allowed into the countries of the rally?
Yes, but to avoid any misunderstandings the medicine shouldn’t have an expiration date shorter than half a year. Also every bottle should say what it is.
How long is it worth collecting donations for?
Until the start of the rally.
How big is a box?
It’s 40x40x40 centimetres.
Can I bring along donations in my own car?
Of course everyone can bring well thought-out donations with him/herself. We ask everyone that if they are thinking about giving out individual donations (so not only on the official donation locations) then please don’t do it by throwing it out of the car’s windows, not packed together, but by handing it over to the person they want to give it to.
What happens to the donations placed in the truck, if my car breaks down and I can’t get back in time for the donations?
Your donation will reach its destination no matter what, you don’t have to worry! Sadly though, due to the constraint of time we can’t delay giving out donations, we have to keep up with the schedule
What can I do if my question isn’t answered here?
Call us at +36 20 623 9440 or write us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.!