The special activities of the Rákospalota Correctional Institute and Central Special Children’s
Home are based on the one hand on historical traditions, on the other hand on past decades’
and the recent years’ professional upgrading aspirations. The three main activities of the
institution, the reformatory education, the pre-trial detention of juvenile offenders and the
special children's home care, have different pasts.
The history of Rákospalota Correctional Institute is over 130 years, it was opened in 1890. In
1995, the legal path of the pre-trial detention of juvenile offenders was opened. In 2006, the
institution was given the opportunity to – in its aims and instruments similar, however still
showing differences – operate special children’s home. It is ensured mainly for girls freed from
the correctional part, but in some cases for those freed of pre-trial detention or dismissed of
special children’s home, and have already reached the age. Since 2016, the institution can
ensure placement for four mothers together with their four children by operating a special
department.
The girls living in the institution struggle with deviances, behavioural disorders, psychological
problems, drug use. At the same time approximately sixty girls live in the institution, on the
average for two years.
According to our aims, we try through correctional, personalized education to compensate for
deficiencies in their socialisation, failed sense of success, in order to make them finish their
school, to teach some basic things of everyday life. Our basic aim is to support their continuing
schooling, to finish school or to get some kind of qualification.
At the same time, we strive to compensate for lost experiences in childhood, to show some
alternatives for spending free time in a better way, to make them realise the joy of creative
work. We try to make our girls process all that took place till their coming here, for the sake
of their becoming able to choose other ways. We believe, if the state of their personality is
considered elemental, then common goal can be achieved within an institution of several
profiles.
In the case of girls coming into our institution, several times can be recognised the scientific
fact, that earlier victim-status stands behind the different deviant behaviours in the case of
wrong doers, perpetrators, and youngsters struggling with behavioural problems. For the
majority of girls, the insufficient family background, some kind of unprocessed trauma define
the life of all of them, their socialisation, psychological state, through them their behaviour.
The base of our programme is the structured, therapeutic institutional operation. Our main
aim is to educate, develop their social skills, intensive part of it is strengthening social
connections, communal activities, and different cognitive-behavioural programmes.
Out of our different methods, experiental education, art-therapy, animal-assisted therapy, art
and craft and sport programmes should be highlighted.
n our institution mostly pedagogues, colleagues of social qualification, psychologists, qualified
child-supervisors work. Their work is supported by colleagues ensuring the smooth operation
of the institution. It must be highlighted that our supporters are universities, other educational
institutions, volunteers of different fields and churches.
Through our homepage you can have a look into our institution. You can read about the history
of the institution, about the present situation. We give a review of the results of our
educational work, professional experiences. A picture is given of everyday life of those living
and working here, as well as programmes and events.
We hope that the pages published here can serve you with useful information.
András Szim director