Million of them do not speak the language.
According to the latest US Census data, more than 1.4 million residents of the country identify themselves as Hungarian or of Hungarian descent, said the head of the American Hungarian Alliance in an interview with public media marking the day. National Unity.
Andrea Lower RiceThe leader of the largest Hungarian-American umbrella organization said that Hungarians in the United States are united in an organized form by more than 100 organizations, 78 churches, 33 Hungarian schools, 25 scouting groups, and 12 Hungarian homes, museums and libraries. He added that almost every federal state has a Hungarian community.
He described the Diaspora Council, which has served as the US president since November 2019, as one of the most effective organizations in national politics affecting the diaspora. In his words, the council acts as a kind of global Hungarian network, whose members learn a lot from each other and help each other.
Andrea Lauer Reis described the Sándor Körösi Csoma Program as a serious opportunity among the Hungarian government scholarships for expatriates whose scholarship recipients bring new ideas, impetus and energy to the life of the community.
He believes the coronavirus pandemic has made the Hungarian community in America stronger, in part because they have been able to reach and engage more people through events held online, which has boosted community spirit.
Looking ahead, Andrea Lower Reyes explained that Hungarians in America face two major challenges. One is to involve the younger generation in the life of the diaspora, where the two most important organizations are the Association of Foreign Hungarian Scouts and the Network of Hungarian Weekend Schools. The second challenge stated that those who do not speak Hungarian can be included as much as possible in the life of Hungarian societies.
He noted that of the 1.4 million Americans who consider themselves Hungarian or of Hungarian descent, there are about a million who do not speak this language, usually those who have been living in the United States since the second, third or fourth generation.
At the same time, they are also aware of their roots, so it is important that they can pass on their Hungarian heritage to them through diaspora organizations, the president of the American Hungarian Alliance said in an interview with public media.
(MTI)
