Currently, 166 Christian students from regions in crisis are studying at fourteen Hungarian universities in the framework of the Hungary Helps scholarship program, says the report of EWTN. The students come from countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

One of them, Reta Jowa, is an Iraqi Christian girl who studies mechanical engineering in Budapest. She told EWTN’s reporter that she had a lot of difficulties as a Christian student in Iraq. When she attended an Iraqi university, she got a message from the university management, and she was asked to wear a hijab in the establishment or leave the university. Reta also said that studying in a Christian country made her feel belonging to a global Catholic community.

The reporter highlighted that despite the targeted assistance, the Hungarian government often receives criticism in Europe for closing its borders to migrants. For this reason, Tristan Azbej, State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians and Hungary Helps Program, clarified that the Hungarian government’s strategy is to stop illegal migration to Europe by directly helping countries in trouble.

The State Secretary also said that according to the report, 340 million Christian people are currently being persecuted for their faith, making Christians the most persecuted group in the world.

EWTN also reported with Mutua Kennedy from Kenya, who obtained a climate change degree in Hungary. The young man is looking forward to going back to Kenya and taking his expertise home. He aims to help in the fight against the effects of climate change in his country.

Edwin Wagah is another Kenyan man, a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, who came to Hungary to obtain a university degree and go back to help in his home country. He studied to help children with disabilities in Kenya.

The example of these three young adults shows how much the Hungarian government does for people in countries in difficulty. Tristan Azbej highlighted that, as a Christian country, Hungary primarily helps Christian communities and persecuted Christians. However, the humanitarian aid of the Hungarian government is insured to other religious groups as well. He also mentioned a Hungarian sister program, which is available for every old student from developing countries, regardless of background and religion.

Last year, following the example of the Hungarian government, Croatia also launched a scholarship program to help persecuted Christians. Croatia and Hungary agree that Christians are the most persecuted group in the world and need extra support.

You can watch the video here: