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Scholarship to Teach and Intern in Transylvania for a 3-6 month period.
Reconnect Transylvania+ immerses American and Canadian young adults of Hungarian background in Transylvanian-Hungarian communities for a 3-6 month period. The program is a natural extension of our Reconnect Hungary and ReConnect Transylvania birthright programs.
The program empowers Scholarship recipients in three ways:
Teaching: you mentor high school or university students informally by tutoring them in English, and deepening their knowledge of American culture.
Interning: you gain invaluable, hands-on work experience by volunteering 25 hours a week at a nonprofit – each one with a different mission – and expanding your network of professional contacts.
Connecting: you have the opportunity to learn upfront and personal how other young Hungarians live; form life-long friendships; and enrich your Hungarian identity through cultural immersion that simply is not possible elsewhere.
Watch how the current and past recipients experienced their time in Transylvania.
Download the online Reconnect Transylvania+ brochure.
What does the Scholarship provide?
The scholarship provides room & full board in the selected school’s facilities, and a stipend to cover local transportation costs in Transylvania. Your internship at the NGO is unpaid, and you make your own travel arrangements from the United States/Canada to Romania. Our local program coordinator, based in Kolozsvár (Cluj), provides guidance and assistance.
Duration of the Scholarship
The Program coordinates with the academic calendar in Transylvania. High School semesters are September 15 – February 1 and February 15 – June 15. The semesters in higher education institutions are October 1 – December 21 and February 1 – May 31. Recipients arrive a few days before the semester begins. There is flexibility for participants to stay on.
Where will you teach and intern?
The Program aims to match participants with educational institutions and volunteer organizations best suited to their talents and goals, the hosts’ needs, and the time period chosen. Kolozsvár/Cluj is the unofficial capital of Transylvania, a cultural and educational hub, with 350,000 residents. Marosvásárhely/Targu Mures is medium-sized; while the Székely towns of Sepsiszentgyörgy/Sfantu Gheorghe (54,000), Csíkszereda/ Miercurea Ciuc (42,000) and Székelyudvarhely/ Odorheiu Secuiesc (34,000) are smaller, rural cities.
Applying for the Scholarship
You can apply for the scholarship by submitting the following information in one Word document:
1. Your availability in Fall 2023 and Spring 2024.
2. One-page motivational letter describing your (a) Hungarian background and involvement in local Hungarian organizations, if any, (b) how you think you will be able to best contribute, and (c) how this Program fits in with your personal and professional goals.
In addition, please provide a resume which contains your contact information, educational background and work experience, and a passport-sized photo. Send your email to: info@reconnecthungary.org with the subject line: Application for Reconnect Transylvania+ scholarship. You do not need to have any Hungarian-language ability for this program but we encourage you, if selected, to take Hungarian or Romanian language classes before departure, if possible.
Marcus Kinney – 2022/2023 Scholarship Recipient
Marcus is a second generation Hungarian-American, studying literature and philosophy. He grew up in Saudi Arabia before moving to the US as a child.
Marcus is now teaching and mentoring at the Hungarian Reformed College in Kolozsvár (Cluj) for the 2022-23 school year, and will complete his internship at Sapientia University. Marcus hopes to learn about the Hungarian literary scene in Transylvania and improve his Hungarian. Keep up to date on his time in Transylvania by following along on our Facebook page.
Sarah Carroll– 2019 Scholarship Recipient
Sarah is a third generation Hungarian-American originally from Pennsylvania. She completed her degree in Political Science with a focus on Eastern European Politics at the University of Florida. Sarah has participated in both Reconnect Hungary and Reconnect Transylvania in 2018.
Sarah teaches and mentors at the Hungarian Reformed College in Kolozsvár. Additionally, she is also interning at the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ) as a political campaign assistant.
Sarah has an innate passion for politics and the Hungarian culture. She plans to pursue a career with the US government in foreign affairs and hopes to continue to work on diplomatic issues related to this region.
Sarah posted weekly vlogs about her journey. Follow for more on ReConnect Hungary’s Facebook page, and YouTube channel.
Sarah Agronow – 2019 Scholarship Recipient
Sarah is a third generation Hungarian-American from the San Francisco Bay area. She has worked in film, animation and in public relations, and volunteered in conservation and adult literacy. She taught and mentored at the Hungarian Reformed College in Kolozsvár beginning February 2019. Sarah’s future goals include urban planning.
Sarah posted weekly vlogs about her journey. Follow for more on ReConnect Hungary’s Facebook page, and YouTube channel.
Lianna Hedrick 2018 Scholarship Recipient
Lianna is a third generation Hungarian-American originally from Michigan. She completed her degree in Environmental Studies from Cleveland State University. She went on ReConnect Transylvania in July 2018 and afterwards began her internship at the Bonus Pastor Foundation’s farm outside Marosvásárhely.
In fall 2018, Lianna taught at the Hungarian Reformed College in Kolozsvár. Lianna posts weekly vlogs about her journey.
Lianna posted weekly vlogs about her journey. Follow for more on ReConnect Hungary’s Facebook page, and YouTube channel.
Our Partners in Transylvania
Reconnect Transylvania+ has partnered with the educational institutions of the Hungarian Reformed Church (Transylvanian District) and proven non-profits eager to offer maximum exposure for the recipients. Our list of partners is continually expanding and currently includes the Hungarian Reformed College, Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ), Sapientia – Hungarian University of Transylvania, Székely Mikó High School, Bonus Pastor Foundation (social services, rehabilitation), the LAM Foundation (business and financial services), summer agricultural work at a farm in Magyarózd, and Saint Francis orphanage in Csíkszereda. Yes, there really is a Transylvania A part of the Kingdom of Hungary for 1,000 years, the 94K square mile region was seded to Romania after WWI. Thus the turbulent history of the largest ethnic Hungarian minority living outside the borders of present-day Hungary began. Sadly, the legacy includes the communist regime’s systematic campaign, lasting decades, to forcibly assimilate the 1.5 million-strong community. Despite facing many obstacles since the 1989 fall of communism, the Hungarian community is vibrant and thriving; a significant cultural, economic and political force in Romania, reaching new heights in their centuries-old traditions of excellence. Yes, “Count Dracula,” Béla Lugosi, hailed from a Hungarian village called Lugos, but Transylvania is so much more. A place of immense, natural beauty, living folk culture and traditions not found elsewhere in Europe, it is a true multi-ethnic region. Transylvania’s rich and proud heritage includes being the first place in history to declare religious tolerance in 1568. Support this amazing opportunity The scholarship is funded entirely through donations and the in-kind contribution of our partner in Transylvania. The six-month cost for one recipient is $6,000, not including the transatlantic airfare.Contributions by check, credit card or Paypal are gratefully accepted and tax-deductible. To make your online gift please visit https://reconnecthungary.org/donate and indicate Reconnect Transylvania+ in the comment field.
ReConnect Transylvania+ is a program of the Hungarian Human Rights Foundation (HHRF), a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization incorporated in the State of New York, and founded in 1976.
