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“Time justifies us” – Interview with Sándor Balogh
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Sándor Balogh, President of the African-Hungarian Union, is a businessman, an entrepreneur and a sports event organiser. For him, a day could last from 26 to 28 hours and a week could include 9 days, because of his varied activities. He established the African-Hungarian Union more then ten years ago. The organisation is presently Hungary’s most prestigious civil organisation dealing with Africa. We asked the president about the achievements of this organisation.
The interview is brought to you by GLOBS Magazine:
In the past four years the world has changed a lot. Africa has got to the front-page, so to speak. It happened not only in Hungary, but also in other countries, and usually in a positive context. What was your experience in the African-Hungarian Union?
On one hand, we are concerned, just like everybody else in Hungary, about what has happened and is still happening in the world. Migration crisis has turned over many people’s lives and filled a lot with fear. On the other hand, the events of the past few years have justified us. At the time of the Union’s establishment, we issued a warning regarding political, economic or climate changes in Africa, that could upset the challenging balance there and would set off a crowd of millions. To tell the truth, in Europe, especially in her Eastern part, the basic opinion was that the situation could not affect us, because Africa is far away, and we have neither the tools nor the interest to solve the local problems of that continent. In summer 2015, all that changed overnight, when – as we might put it – reality knocked on the door of Central-Europe. An average Central-European viewer could see what happens when harvest is lost about 5,000 kilometres away. It could have an impact on our life.
Does it mean that more people have contacted you and asked for advice since then?
It does definitely.
Today, there is a proverb which we have always emphasised: “Assistance should be given where the problem is, before the problem comes to us.”
In reality, however, it is easier said that done, because Africa is not an easy place. In order to know what and where to do, so that it would mean real help and not only the image of charity, we need experts who have spent years in the field and are familiar with the local conditions as well as have personal connections. That is how we can help, and this is the area where our advice is required.
Yet, many criticize the approach of the West, because they try to solve Africa’s problems with humanitarian aid, in order to ease their feeling of guilt for the colonisation. That is why the introduction of other programs is urged. Have you realized any changes in the priorities?
We keep changing and reacting to the changes of the environment, and of course we learn in the meantime. The external environment changes rapidly. There are countries in Africa which expressed the opinion that they are not in need of aid. They would like us to take businesses and partnership there, which would create jobs. It is important to recognise that the retention power of Africa against migration would not be stronger if we gave them food. They deteriorate the migration situation within the continent.
