The interview with Péter Deák is available HERE!
What does it really mean to be good? When our interviewee was surprised with the prestigious Good Person Award “while beekeeping,” his reaction revealed everything about what kind of person he truly is. In our latest interview, we spoke with an educator and child protection specialist who has dedicated more than 40 years to uplifting children in state care and served as the first operational director of our Foundation.
In the “brought luggage” of young people struggling with school failures, he searched for hidden talent, and through craftsmanship, nature walking, and unconditional attention, he showed them that they too are valuable.
“In truth, this became my job: that I started unpacking these packages with the children… and then from this came a quite exciting and quite good story.”
The interview reveals what it is like when someone says no to a great opportunity in life—to a more comfortable and secure foundation position—simply because his sense of vocation does not allow him to leave behind children facing difficult fates. He speaks honestly about moments during Christmases held in the old general store, and how they threw one of their former pupils into the air with joy at an award ceremony.
During the conversation, on the occasion of the Good Person Award, the concept of success is also brought up. But how does someone who has been supporting others from the background with immense humility for decades define this?
“Success is somewhere there; it is like a soft, quiet, reliable friend in one’s life that you can always count on.”