Swapmeet at the glove factory in Budapest
The glove factory, which was renewed and transformed within the framework of the Magdolna program with the active help of locals into the Community House of the area, can be found at Mátyás square - one of Budapest’s poorest neighbourhoods’ main squares.
The invitation stated that „If you bring, you can take!” so I immediately tacked up some leftovers from a previous swapmeet at HuMuSz. And so I stepped into the house with a few items unnecesarry for me in my bag, and a lot of questions on my mind. I was no dissapointed, we have a lot to learn from the swapmeet organizers, the Green Youths (ZöFi) an the Sun Club Foundation.
By the time I got to the glove factory on Mátyás square, the up beat swapmeet was already on. I saw magazines, hats, clothes, cups, toys. There were volunteer helpers behind the tables who gave wooden tongs in exchange, which served as currency at the swapmeet. There was someone who arrived with seventy objects. He could not be paid by the tongs, but it was recorded on paper of how much „capital” he had. I quickly exchanged the items I brought in, so my stuffed animal keyholder quickly became a cup.
I found out from Móni Bálint, the main organizer, that the event is mainly targeted at local residents. Most of the swappers are families and children in the neighbourhood, but there are many „outsiders” , not to mention the guests who return more than once! The outside visitors would rather bring, the locals would rather take. Yes, in conditional, as some can bring nothing. But the organizers found a solution to this too!
Beyond waste prevention the swap shop’s goal is to help the needy and make them part of community life. And so the last half hour everything is free at the market, no tongs for items! The remaining items will be given to social organizatiuons and family aid centers in the district. The needy are also helped out during the „currency” part of the event: between the swappers there is a social worker walking around, who hides tongs in the pockets of those who couldn’t bring anything, but would like to take something.
The first swap meet was set up at the end of November 2008 on the „Buy nothing day”, and because of its big success they set one up every two months. There is such a demand for the swapmeeting that the organizers are thinking about having one every month. The swap is being popularized at the local newspaper, mailing lists and websites, and they are setting up placards at neigbouring housing complexes. The organizers have a new venture, for example they teach various furniture renewal techniques to locals.
I am very happy that the swap meets are such a success. High spirits, everyone is interested. Eldelry ladies converse, and moms bring their kids who with great enthusiasm hunt for the wooden tongs that can be exchanged for treasures.
Further info (in Hungarian):
http://kesztyugyar.blog.hu/rovat/csere_bere
Translation: Gergő Ortutay