The Borsos family - Simon Móricz-Sabján

The Borsos family

The Borsos family of eight members lives in the village of Csanytelek, Csongrád county, Hungary. The everyday life and problems of the family perfectly reflect the problems of eastern Hungary. The family’s main source of income, in addition to low pay, is the state aid they receive per child, altogether 460 USD per month at the moment.

Their situation below the poverty line is not unique: more than a quarter of the population in Hungary currently lives below the subsistence level and a significant percentage lives in deep poverty, what’s more, regional disparities in the country have steadily increased in recent years.

Mária and József have struggled for years with the upbringing of their 6 children, as well as with the standard unemployment of the area. For a long time they both tried to supplement their monthly income with seasonal work, which was just as erratic as it was unsubstantial. The problems of recent years have however, consumed their relationship and for a year now, Mary has been raising the children alone, also struggling with the problems that come with it.

Nevertheless, Family continues to be able to serve as a true community. Though forced to live with the constraints of poverty, the bond that binds them together is much stronger than everyday worries.

Mária’s been living in Csanytelek since birth. She’s rarely even travelled within Hungary, mainly because of financial reasons.

Luca and Bence Borsos watching television in the evening in their children’s room. In each dimension of poverty, Hungary ranks in the bottom tier of European Union members, though, according to the latest Central Statistical Office data, we can see a rapid improvement in terms of work intensity and the lessening of material deprivation.

Lunch at the Borsos’. The family must spend almost all their income for raising the children and covering their most basic needs.

The difficulties and the lack of funds are raising contsant problems: the biggest help is the family union.

Everday life is a challenge taken succesfully despite all the circumstances.

David, Viktor and Bence play computer games in the weekend.

Ducks and geese in the backyard of the house. The poultry stock of the family is decreasing year by year. Hungary ranks in the lowest tier in all poverty dimensions among EU Member States, and this situation has not fundamentally changed over the past decade. The rate of those, affected by the certain dimensions of poverty is the highest in Hungary among the Visegrad countries.

Despite all problems, the moments spent together are the most important.

The father of Mária, Ferenc lived with in the family home in Csánytelek for years. In 2015 he died in a heart attack.

Mária gives the children everything she can, but she has much less time left for herself.

The situation of the family is not extraordinary at all: in the poorest areas families are practically pulling through. Poverty affects nearly two million people in Hungary, which is a tremendously high number for a country with a population of 9.9 million.

Mária got a job after many years again, she is the bartender of the local pub from 6 am to 9 pm, Monday to Friday, earning 19 USD per day. The low rate of employment has, for decades, been one of Hungary’s major social problems.

Recent statistics show serious income inequalities. Figures show that the gap between the richest and poorest has further widened in Hungary throughout recent years.

Future Hungarian generations shall face serious problems in the countryside as well, as currently 30% of society’s poorest are raising more than 50% of Hungarian children.

During wintertime, morning departure begins before the sunrise.

Poverty is no obstacle for playing creatively at home.

After the divorce, Mária also became responsible for the tasks around the house.

The children of the Borsos family wait the local bus at 6:30am in the morning in order to get to school in time.

According to the latest data almost quarter of young children live in poverty in Hungary. 26.3% of the Hungarian population is at risk of poverty and social exclusion, however this rate shows a decreasing tendency.

Mária and her daughter, Luca preparing for school early in the morning. Luca leaves the house and goes to school every morning at 6.30 with her brothers.

Living space is continuously decreasing in the villages, increasing emigration. Half of the people between the ages of 19 and 30 years would like to work abroad.

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