The project entitled Cross-Border Linguistic Accessibility in Public Life encompassed not only academic and professional activities but also placed strong emphasis on social responsibility and public recognition. Below, we present the laudations of the five social actors awarded within the framework of the project:
There are institutions whose work goes beyond everyday news reporting. They do not merely inform but connect communities, preserve the mother tongue, and give voice to those who are often marginalized. The editorial team recognized today has been one of the most important pillars of the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia since 2018. Through their credible, accessible, and often courageous work, they contribute to ensuring that the Hungarian language remains present in the public sphere, on screens, and in homes. They are those who did not allow change to sweep them aside: by continuing their mission in new forms, including the online space, they demonstrate that linguistic accessibility and social responsibility can go hand in hand. The award therefore goes to Transcarpathia’s only Hungarian-language television channel, TV21 Uzhhorod.
There are schools that are more than mere educational institutions. They are places where, alongside the transfer of knowledge, strengthening community, identity, and values is a daily mission. The community highlighted here has for decades provided a solid foundation for Hungarian-language education in Transcarpathia and has educated young people who stand their ground not only professionally but also as responsible members of society, both at home and abroad. Today, their graduates are influential members of society—teachers, entrepreneurs, physicians, and public figures—who demonstrate through their work and example that the values they received here represent genuine and lasting worth. Together, the teachers and students of this institution prove that linguistic accessibility and social responsibility are not merely ideals, but lived realities. The award is therefore presented to the Velykodobron Lyceum of the Velykodobron Village Council.
There are communities whose everyday work creates more than an administrative space: they shape real communities, connect people, and foster mutual understanding in a multicultural environment. The Solotvyno Settlement Territorial Community is one of the most outstanding examples of this approach. Here, multilingualism—the use of Ukrainian, Hungarian, and Romanian—is not merely present side by side, but has become a natural part of everyday life for residents. This ability to integrate linguistic diversity into all areas of community life creates an atmosphere of trust, openness, and mutual respect. Special recognition is due to the fact that the Solotvyno Village Council structures both its official and civic spheres in a way that ensures all residents—regardless of their mother tongue—have barrier-free access to information, services, and opportunities. This reflects a deep understanding of the needs of a multicultural community and a genuine commitment to the principles of linguistic accessibility. The work of the community demonstrates that linguistic inclusion and social responsibility can serve as foundations for development, while respect for cultures and languages paves the way toward a strong and cohesive society. Today’s award is therefore presented to the Solotvyno Settlement Territorial Community
In our time, entrepreneurship is not only an economic activity but also a form of responsibility toward the community. The young entrepreneur recognized today embodies this perspective: through his work, he builds bridges between languages, cultures, and people. By making use of all modern communication tools—from social media to personal interaction—he ensures that information is accessible in multiple languages, thereby supporting orientation, understanding, and cooperation. His example shows that linguistic accessibility is not solely an institutional task but also an individual responsibility, and that the younger generation is capable of combining entrepreneurship with service to the community. The award is therefore presented to Ferenc Gál, sole proprietor and owner of Franklin’s Store.
There are businesses whose activities extend beyond everyday operations: they connect communities, preserve linguistic diversity, and set an example of openness, cooperation, and multicultural engagement. The enterprise awarded today has demonstrated that success is based not only on professional expertise but also on the ability to communicate with everyone in their own language. This business provides information to its customers in two languages—Hungarian and Ukrainian—and, whenever necessary, is ready at any moment to address its guests in additional foreign languages. In doing so, it does not merely provide a service but builds bridges between people, cultures, and communities, across borders and beyond. In their work, respect, precision, and multilingualism form a unified whole, offering a model of how linguistic accessibility can become a natural part of everyday life. The award is therefore presented to the owner of the Fratelli enterprise.
