Overall, fewer people are helping those in need this year, according to a representative nationwide survey by Yettel[1]. Last year, 88% of respondents said they practice some form of charitable giving (donating or volunteering), this figure has fallen to 79% this year. Most people donate randomly, and the amount of monetary donations has not changed compared to last year. In 3 out of 4 cases, the amount donated is below HUF 5,000.
When it comes to charitable giving plans specifically related to this Christmas, just over a third (36%) of respondents intend to donate or volunteer, while around the same number are still unsure about their plans. A third of respondents do not plan to give to charity, and the majority of them (52%) simply cannot afford to give in the current economic climate, but many do not have the time (29%) or fear that donations will go to an untrustworthy place (21%).
And who are the most popular beneficiaries? Around a third (34%) of people would support children in state care, 30% people living in extreme poverty, 30% animal shelters, and 24% cancer patients. Only 13% plan to help people with disabilities this year, down from 16% last year.
According to Ákos Pordán, Managing Director of KézenFogva Foundation, people with disabilities tend to be less in the spotlight. “In Hungary, one in twenty people, that is, nearly half a million people live with some kind of disability, yet we don’t see them so often in our everyday lives, including social media and television. The perception of people with disabilities has improved a lot in recent years, but we still have a lot to do. The possibility of building relationships between people with and without disabilities is an integral part of this.”
With this year’s Christmas initiative, Yettel is working to enhance the visibility of people with disabilities by “making gifts accessible” in partnership with the KézenFogva Foundation. At the website legertekesebbajandek.yettel.hu you can find Christmas cards that can inspire anyone to give their loved ones a gift of shared experiences and time together this year. The implementation of four ideas is supported by content creators with disabilities in the form of podcasts and videos. Károly Mucsi, a young man with autism, gives tips on starting a book club, István Cservenka, a tennis player with mental disabilities, on playing sports together, and Katalin Kiss, a visually impaired person, on cooking together. Amateur actor and influencer Zoltán Fenyvesi, also known as Wheelchairguy, and the main character in one of Yettel’s Christmas commercials, has created an audio guide for the joint exploration of unknown cities.
Besides contributing to the social representation of people with disabilities, viewing content also helps a good cause, as every time a user views a piece of content, Yettel makes a donation to the KézenFogva Foundation to support digital accessibility and people living in assisted homes.
“It’s a common misconception that only large amounts of money matter to foundations. In reality, you can help them even if you don’t contribute financially at all. Our campaign with Yettel is about reaching out to as many people as possible, showing that people with disabilities can cook, play sports or get around just like anyone else. By having shared experiences with them, you become more open which also facilitates acceptance,” added Ákos Pordán.
More information: https://legertekesebbajandek.yettel.hu/
[1] The survey was conducted between 28 October and 3 November 2022, on a sample of 1,000 people representative of Hungary’s Internet-using population aged 18-69 by gender, age, type of settlement and region. (Impetus Research)