Hintalovon Academy

In Hungary, collecting credit points is mandatory in several professions. However, training programs that focus on addressing the needs of children were missing from the available offerings. When we launched the Academy, we primarily accredited courses for social workers, teachers, and lawyers. This allowed them not only to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for their work but also to earn continuing education points. Over time, there has been an increasing demand for courses specifically designed for responsible adults. Often, child protection and the need for help are only discussed after an issue has already occurred. Yet, the most effective way to address cases of abuse is prevention. However, finding credible and thorough information on prevention online can be challenging.

The courses offered by the Academy are specifically designed to promote advocacy and raise legal awareness. While the training materials include case studies to help adults learn and reflect on potential approaches to real-life situations, the primary focus is on prevention, promoting a child rights perspective, and emphasizing the importance of proactive measures. Our goal was to create a knowledge base where adults can learn about a wide range of child rights topics in one place—whether it’s online safety, divorce, abuse, or sexual education. We also value collective learning. Every participant has the opportunity to join the training community groups, where they can share their thoughts, challenges, and best practices related to the topics covered.

The project team includes a child rights advisor, a project manager and training developer, a communications expert, and a volunteer administrator. Additionally, the entire staff of the Foundation contributes to its operations, offering support in areas such as coordinating child participation, professional proofreading, fundraising advice, and financial activities. Our program is also supported by our Kid Colleagues, who are 13-18-year-old volunteers. Each training begins with a needs assessment and concludes with an impact evaluation, which serves as the basis for an annual review. Developing an e-learning course takes 2-3 months of work, and after publication, we continuously monitor feedback to improve our offerings. Most of the project work is carried out at our office in Budapest.

The motto of our Child Participation Program is "Nothing about them, without them!" Children actively contribute to developing and delivering our training programs, ensuring their voices are heard and shaping participants’ perspectives on children’s rights. Our e-learning format is another key innovation, offering flexible, self-paced learning for parents and professionals who cannot attend in-person sessions due to time or resource constraints. These online courses make child rights education accessible from anywhere. We are proud of our discovery-based learning approach, fostering active engagement, and the supportive community that has formed around our programs, promoting shared learning and advocacy.

In 2024, following a child protection scandal, we created an freely accessible e-learning course that provided credible and comprehensive knowledge in a time of uncertainty. Our goal was to equip adults with the skills to prevent similar cases of abuse, confidently respond to various needs, and communicate with proper knowledge about sensitive topics. One of the Academy's biggest success is exactly this; Impact assessments show that over 60% of participants registered based on recommendations from colleagues or acquaintances. This demonstrates the course’s effectiveness: adults are discussing and reflecting on child rights, now supported by a more solid foundation of knowledge and skills.