Marija Petrović | 26 Sep 2026

Educational programmes do not always need to begin in a classroom. A choir, a reunion or a familiar community gathering can also provide space to discuss an issue that affects everyday life.

The Hungarian ODYSSEY workshop programme explored this range of settings. Alongside events in residential care facilities and educational venues, activities took place with Kapos Choir in Dombóvár, during a class reunion in Gerjen and at a farm in Dombóvár-Szőlőhegy.

These settings highlight an important aspect of community education: reaching people involves understanding where they already meet and whom they trust.

Familiar settings, accessible conversations

Fraud can be a sensitive topic. People may hesitate to admit uncertainty or describe an experience that left them feeling embarrassed. Introducing the subject through an established community can provide a more approachable starting point.

Local hosts also help connect an educational activity with the circumstances of the group. They understand how people communicate, which examples may feel relevant and what support is available nearby.

This is where cooperation between educational organisations and community partners becomes particularly valuable. One contributes resources and facilitation; the other brings relationships and local knowledge.

Beyond a single workshop

The ODYSSEY methodology considers how awareness can continue after an event. Existing groups offer opportunities to revisit a message, discuss a new concern or encourage someone to seek assistance.

Such possibilities depend on maintaining respectful boundaries. Community support should help people make informed decisions without placing pressure on them to disclose personal experiences.

For ICRP, local partnerships connect project resources with everyday community life. They also demonstrate how cultural and social participation can create opportunities for learning about subjects beyond a group’s original purpose.

A community that gathers to sing, reconnect or spend time together can also become a place where someone feels comfortable asking an important question.

The blog entry is part of the “ODYSSEY – Your Financial Security” project, financed by the European Commission.