FÉLIX ANIKÓ (BUDAPEST)
Director of the Haver Foundation
Her work is defined by a consistent rejection of anti-Semitism, prejudice and exclusion. As a leader and human rights expert, she not only represents the values of openness and dialogue towards the majority society, but also considers it important to strengthen democratic attitudes, tolerance and human rights principles within the Jewish community.
As the director of the Haver Foundation, she initiated and implemented educational programs that primarily address young people. Through informal school sessions, city walks, and methodological materials, thousands of students have been introduced to the diversity of Jewish identity, the memory of the Holocaust, and the dilemmas of today's society. The programs are based on the development of critical thinking and do not convey ready-made stereotypes, but encourage encounters, questioning, and independent opinion-making.
Under her leadership, Haver's work strengthens young people's historical knowledge and resilience against anti-Semitic, racist, or exclusionary public discourse. Éva Fahidi's personal example is an important inspiration for her, so through her activities she herself offers a credible example of community and human rights for Jewish young people.
For me, the most important thing in my job is – the candidate wrote
Perhaps the most important thing is to remain true to myself and my values and value system, to do my work along these lines, to convey and pass on these values. These values include solidarity, openness, tolerance, equality, and non-extremism.
In my practical work, solidarity is realized in such a way that partnership is essential for me, both with representatives of other civil society organizations, and with representatives of other minorities and vulnerable groups. Fortunately, the Haver Foundation is the place where I get maximum space for this.
Openness and tolerance are manifested in my work by trying to be open to everyone's thoughts, individuality and identity (this is also true for people who think very differently from me, which is partly what my scientific work was about) and to understand what we have in common that makes us human. In addition, I try to treat everyone who collaborates with me as a partner, regardless of their rank and quality of communication with me.
I strive to avoid any extremism in my work, and to be independent of any power or politics. The latter also means that I always try to examine individual situations independently of ideological affiliation and to step outside the logic of the camp as much as possible.
I'm not claiming that I always succeed flawlessly in every situation, these are just guidelines that I often consider before, during, and after actions.
References
https://www.szabadeuropa.hu/a/haver-felix-aniko-interju/32820636.html
https://tatk.elte.hu/modern-antiszemitizmus-a-visegradi-orszagokban-konyvbemutato
https://merce.hu/2020/10/31/politikai-narrativak-fogsagaban/
https://telex.hu/belfold/2023/09/25/mi-hazank-mozgalom-jobbik-vendegmunkas-bunozes-magyarorszag