In a small town in northeastern Hungary, an unusual social enterprise has emerged: A goat farm and factory offering training and jobs to marginalized communities, including disabled people and those of minority ethnicities.

Northeastern Hungary is one of the poorest parts of the country, with high unemployment and large disadvantaged communities. 

Marika, a 64-year-old member of Hungary's Roma community, has been working at the farm since its inception in 2019. At the time, she was living on a small pension with no opportunity for work.

"Some friends came and asked if I wanted to work here," she said. "I was pleased to say yes. I'm still here. I do everything to the best of my abilities. They are satisfied with me and so am I with them."

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Marika and her colleagues feed, clean and milk the goats, as well as tending to other small animals and a vegetable garden.

Farm director Roland Grubert, a member of the Hungarian Red Cross, says the inspiration behind the project was to help those who struggle to find work because of stigmatization.

"The idea behind all this is that we provide employment locally, to people who otherwise couldn't possibly find any job in this region," said Grubert. "It is very important that they stay here and work here. So we created 20 jobs." 

Grubert says his enterprise offers stability to employees and their families, allowing them to remain in Mezocsat rather than seek work elsewhere. It also offers other forms of support including counseling and administrative assistance.

Goat farming was chosen as a trade with local roots and a direct form of income. At the factory, employees turn goat milk into cheese and other products, which are then sold at markets across the region. The initiative got off the ground with funding from the Hungarian government, the European Union and the Red Cross.

It's not quite operating at a profit, but its owners hope it can become a sustainable project and an example for others to help the marginalized find steady work. 

Marika said she's learnt a lot about milking goats and has passed that knowledge on to newer employees. 

"It's a great thing," she said. "There is work here. We have no other opportunity in the village, just [poorly paid] public work. But this is a decent job."