Six students with diverse passions are traveling to East Tennessee State University from Hungary. They will be in the United States from March 19 to April 1, 2026, as part of the Újvilág, or New World Program, spending time at the university, learning about Appalachian strategies to solve a large variety of economic and social issues. Many of the students are Roma, part of the largest ethnic minority group in Europe, and they are all from Roma Christian Colleges in Hungary.
The students are passionate about addressing inequalities—especially finding ways to create social inclusion. So, a main focus of the trip is how Appalachia addresses social inequalities. The group has engaged with a variety of community leaders and organizations. They visited the Langston Center, a building that was formerly a segregated high school and is now a community center providing accessible education and hosting programs promoting multiculturalism. The center showed some ways the region uplifts underserved communities and allowed students to learn about inequalities in the United States through the history of segregation and the inclusive mission of the Langston Center.
Students are also traveling to Cherokee, North Carolina, to learn about the Cherokee American Indians and the preservation of indigenous heritage. Both Roma and Cherokee people have experienced forced relocation, discrimination and cultural suppression, creating the potential for growth through partnership within both groups. The visit will allow for cultural connection as well as show students ways the Cherokee have preserved their culture and language over centuries.
These programs align with the passions and careers of the students from Hungary.
József Báder is a teacher striving to uplift students from all different cultures and backgrounds. Judit Jóni currently works as a Roma Affairs Officer and seeks to bring United States practices back to her role in Hungary. Liliána Sőregi is passionate about supporting first-generation college students in Hungary through mentor-based programs.
First-generation student Réka Bardi is focused on the importance of responsible leadership and community empowerment. Leila Csorba studies psychiatry with a focus on mental health and addiction recovery, looking at the similar struggles in rural Hungary and Appalachia. Lastly, Attila Jankó is a lawyer and doctoral student who researches reintegration, exploring the process in America.
Alongside professional development and education, while in Northeast Tennessee, the students are learning about the local culture through exposure to bluegrass, baseball, cookouts and other traditional American activities. In return, they are sharing their culture with students at ETSU. Through engaging conversations between students about their disciplines in the two countries and presentations such as beautifully sung Romani songs, the students are bringing a taste of Hungary to the region.
The program is funded by Diversitas Központ and the group is led by Kata Kárász, the organization’s lead consultant. From ETSU, Christopher Keller, Melissa Schrift and Brittany Mitchell have worked tirelessly to ensure the trip is conducted in the most impactful way possible.
