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Behind every community stand people whose quiet strength, resilience, and dedication make a real difference. In the YouthINC project, our young ambassadors set out to discover such heroes – ordinary individuals with extraordinary impact. From healers of nature to voices of truth and tireless helpers, their stories remind us that heroism is not about fame or glory, but about the courage to care and to act.

We Work from the Heart!

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Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a hero? You don’t need superpowers – everyday heroes are those who quietly act with attention and kindness for others. They help, comfort, or brighten our day with a smile.

For us, such a hero is Csaba Balázsi, a prominent member of the Red Cross in Odorheiu Secuiesc. That’s why we stand here, in front of the Red Cross headquarters. For him, helping is not just a job but a way of life. People trust him because he helps with a pure heart – this is also his motto. He achieved his results through persistent work, and although he has realized many dreams, he feels there’s always room to grow and always someone to help. He believes in actions over attention – perhaps that’s why he became a true role model.

Csaba’s life didn’t start easily, even though he was initially raised in a well-off family. However, in the fourth grade, everything changed: his father was arrested, and his mother, being illiterate, couldn’t work. Still, she did everything she could: collecting bottles, selling corn, to provide for her children.

Eventually, she couldn’t manage alone, and Csaba was placed in state care. The orphanage wasn’t easy for him – he couldn’t read or write and had a severe stutter. A turning point came with a special teacher, Johanna, who helped him overcome his speech problem in just two weeks. Johanna became not just a teacher but a mother figure and role model – a true everyday hero, thanks to whom Csaba’s path began to change. He realized that there are genuinely good-hearted people who selflessly want to help others and give them a chance at a new life.

After Johanna, another change came in Csaba’s life: his former neighbors learned he was in an orphanage and decided to take him in. They enrolled him in school and raised him properly, and in return, he helped with household chores. He resolved to one day give back all the good he had received. This experience deepened his commitment to humanity and helping others, which continues to guide his life.

Even as a child, he was drawn to the work of mountain rescuers, police officers, and especially firefighters – he always felt that helping was close to his heart. At thirty, he worked as a sales assistant at a gas station but soon realized it wasn’t what he wanted: people were always in a hurry, with no room for genuine connections. He always found true value in human relationships and helping others.

On a friend’s recommendation, Csaba got an opportunity with the newly forming Transylvanian Rescue Group. He immediately felt it was his path and enrolled in a six-month first aid course, spending 480 hours in the emergency department. This experience deeply moved him and confirmed that helping is his calling. Although he wasn’t accepted into the team at that time, six years later, he was called back, proving that perseverance paid off. By then, Csaba was already working passionately as an active member of the Red Cross.

A new opportunity arose: he could serve at the downtown Unitarian congregation in Odorheiu Secuiesc, where he also received a service apartment—finally fulfilling his old dream of having a dog. This new role not only provided a home but also allowed for community involvement. He assists in events like the Artz festival and the Omnium sports olympics and actively participates in various community projects of the National Dávid Ferenc Youth Association (ODFIE), inspiring us to help selflessly.

This lifestyle, however, brings significant challenges. In 2024, when the dormitory of the Tamási Áron High School in Odorheiu Secuiesc collapsed, Csaba participated in the rescue operations. He recalled that during such times, he blocks out everything else and focuses solely on helping, even risking his life. That’s what happened that day when he fought through fire and water for the students’ safety.

Csaba’s positive personality and selfless attitude leave a deep impression on people. A good example is his relationship with the Off-Road community: he managed to integrate into the group of rugged, off-road men and motivated them for charitable purposes. Today, they not only drive off-road for fun but also participate in searching for missing persons – thus, the previously aimlessly burned fuel now has purpose. Csaba’s pride and joy were evident in the interview—such impact is rare and provides a true example for others.

Recently, Csaba became a member of the national rescue network – meaning he can be deployed immediately in any national emergency. His face showed the quiet pride that comes from being able to help even more people.

He’s driven not by heroism but by sincere dedication: day by day, with a pure heart, ready to help in any situation. If necessary, he would risk his life for others – that’s what makes him a true hero. Csaba doesn’t just work – he LIVES to make the world a better place, and those around him can feel it.

News

Behind every community stand people whose quiet strength, resilience, and dedication make a real difference. In the YouthINC project, our young ambassadors set out to discover such heroes – ordinary individuals with extraordinary impact. From healers of nature to voices of truth and tireless helpers, their stories remind us that heroism is not about fame or glory, but about the courage to care and to act.


Work That Mend, Stories That Heal

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Everyday heroes are ordinary people who act selflessly in their daily lives, not for recognition but from an inner moral impulse. When we talk about them, everyone recalls at least one person who has helped or supported them or their community at some point. For those interested in themes such as women’s destinies, challenges, and self-understanding, the name of writer Andrea Szilveszter often comes up as an example of an everyday hero.

Literature has always played a special role in Andrea’s life. She began writing poems and keeping a diary at a young age, eventually realizing that prose suited her best. During her school years, she studied music, but over time writing became her true means of self-expression. Although her parents didn’t always understand her passion for writing, literature has always been a refuge for her.

After university, she traveled to Africa, where she began writing more seriously and sharing her works. Thanks to her knowledge of the language, she got to know the local people’s stories up close—especially women’s—who openly shared their struggles and hardships. These experiences deeply affected her and reinforced her belief that writing was her true path.

Her manuscripts Strange Body, Makeup, and Woman in the Mirror have all sparked considerable attention, further establishing her literary career. Strange Body especially stirred strong reactions, as it fearlessly explores the changes of the female body and their effects on femininity and motherhood. Most feedback comes through her Facebook page Woman in the Mirror. While not all reactions are positive, she finds constructive criticism valuable, as it provides an opportunity for growth.

Contemporary writer Zsolt Láng has greatly influenced her, helping her realize that it’s not about the likes, but about the deeper message of the writing. She views literature as a helping profession, and many have reached out to her because of her works. She feels closest to stories that portray the fates and struggles of women, though her writing is not limited to this theme. She also writes for children and has penned poems about her family and husband, who attended the launch of her first book.

In her home, Andrea has a special room upstairs she calls the “reading room.” It is her retreat when she needs a quiet space to write or think. The room is filled with books, notebooks, and personal objects that inspire her. Each item holds a memory—some acquired during travels, others given as gifts—each with its own story. This is where she feels truly free, and where inspiration always finds her.

Although she does not plan to write a book series, if she ever did, it would be about her life. Still, she does not wish to pursue writing as a full-time profession, fearing it would lose its essence. However, she is eager to participate in contests, scholarships, and writing clubs to continue developing her craft.

She believes recommending books is a big responsibility, as each reader finds healing in different works. She avoids being too categorical and instead encourages readers to find the books that speak to them. However, she is more comfortable recommending nonfiction books, especially for teenagers or their parents.

Andrea’s poems touch on topics that may be taboo for some, but are helpful to many. The emotions and thoughts she conveys offer great emotional support for those dealing with similar struggles. That’s why Andrea is seen as an everyday hero—someone whose verses we can turn to for emotional and spiritual relief.

When we discovered Andrea Szilveszter’s poetry, we, too, were moved by her honesty and courage in speaking about pain and hardship—yet she never forgets the importance of gratitude. In her poem Te Deum, for instance, she gives thanks to God for life’s small joys: peaceful sleep, family, faith, and the warmth of home. This simple yet profound message reminded us that happiness is not found in grand things, but in the quiet gifts of everyday life. Her words inspired us to learn gratitude—and to be more present in our own lives.

“Today I ask for nothing, Lord. Just one word trembles on my lips: thanks. I would be feeble and helpless if my heart longed for more.” — Andrea Szilveszter, Te Deum

News

Behind every community stand people whose quiet strength, resilience, and dedication make a real difference. In the YouthINC project, our young ambassadors set out to discover such heroes – ordinary individuals with extraordinary impact. From healers of nature to voices of truth and tireless helpers, their stories remind us that heroism is not about fame or glory, but about the courage to care and to act.

Granny Zsuzsa’s Garden, Where the Plants Tell Stories

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Everyday heroes are ordinary people who act selflessly in their daily lives, not for recognition, but driven by inner moral values. When we speak of such people, everyone recalls someone who once helped them or supported their community.

In Cristuru Secuiesc and the nearby villages, many think of Vári Zsuzsa when asked about an everyday hero. She was born in Rugănești and has lived there ever since. Her story unfolds in this very place, where she built her family and created her magical garden. Zsuzsa is known in our community by many names: healer, herb lady, mushroom knight, grandmother, and mother — proof of how many people she has touched across different walks of life.

Her deep connection with nature was formed in childhood. Her family spent most of their time outdoors — from work to play, everything was tied to the natural world. At school, she excelled in natural sciences, already showing her deep inner love for nature. She says much of her knowledge comes from this time, learning home remedies and natural healing methods from the elders.

She studied at a technical school for accounting and worked 33 years as an accountant. Although she never planned to change careers, when the opportunity came to retire early at 50, she felt it was time to follow her childhood dream: to fully dedicate herself to nature.

Together with her husband, they decided to start a truffle plantation — a unique initiative in Romania at that time. Despite many obstacles, they persevered. Zsuzsa even trained a dog to search for truffles, which was quite innovative back then. Later, university researchers became interested in her methods and her dog. Behind her success without formal training stood her faith, tireless work, and persistence.

In their garden, they planted a truffle forest using collected spores. After years of dedication, they’ve been harvesting truffles for nine years now. Her expertise in mushrooms was acknowledged by researchers at ELTE University, and she began collaborating with them. By donating mushroom samples, she contributed to scientific progress. In recognition of her work, she was knighted in Budapest in 2009 by the Saint Ladislaus Truffle Order.

In 2023, a record-breaking half-kilogram truffle grew in their garden. Sadly, her husband passed away that same year and never saw “the fruit of their labor.” For Zsuzsa, that truffle became her husband’s legacy. Since then, truffle cultivation has spread in Romania — a journey that began in her little forest.

For 25 years, Zsuzsa has been collecting and processing medicinal plants. Her greatest help today is her daughter, with whom she roams the fields and meadows. They never gather large quantities at once, believing that plants would lose their true value. Freshly processed herbs dry full of life, preserving their beneficial properties. From them, they create teas and remedies, believing that nature is “God’s pharmacy,” always open for those in need.

Though she never advertises her products, people visit her daily to buy and ask for advice. Each year, groups of tourists come to learn about herbs and mushrooms from her.

Zsuzsa has never sought fame, yet she is well-known and respected. People admire her dedication, humility, and hard work with nature. Despite her success, she remains modest, and her main goal remains: to preserve and pass on ancient knowledge and values, contributing to her community’s health.

For some members of our team, Zsuzsa is a supportive and inspiring grandmother, and we all feel a close bond with her — as if she were everyone’s grandma. We look up to her story and perseverance with admiration, trying to carry a piece of her wisdom with us. For us, she is a true role model.