About us

Our dear guest, friend, supporter!

Welcome to the webshop of the Hungarian Down Foundation for the Development of the Intellectually Disabled! The handicrafts shown here were made by craftsmen with Down syndrome and other intellectually disabled people who work in the workshops of our foundation. One of the main objectives of the Down Foundation's complex service system is to support the independent life of adult intellectually disabled people, through education, development, housing, leisure programsmwith a reason, and with a job that earns money. Their earnings make them financially independent, who do not burden their parents and do not need charity. This is the basis of independent adult life and functioning as citizens.

In our webshop, you can choose from handicrafts and works of art made by craftsmen and artists from around 20 workshops of the Down Foundation. These include clay, felt, paper, leather, textiles, photography and fine art.

We also offer services in our webshop. You can find more information about these in the "Services" menu item.

Our demonstration workshops are open to both those who are interested and those who want to learn and practice crafts. Our craftsmen are ready to help you at a pre-arranged time. They will present the products made in the workshops, the work processes and are happy to help you if you would like to make your own gifts for Christmas or other personal holidays with us.

Currently, our webshop offers products from four large workshops: from the workshops in Zagreb, Bocskai, Szalók and Lágymányosi.

Lágymányosi employer

Leader: Gabriella Vaszita

In the Lágymányosi workshop, products are made in 4 workshops with about 40 people, in small groups, and on a monthly basis. We have a leather goods maker, ceramic, canvas and paper workshop. We try to keep up with market demands and constantly renew ourselves.

Down Foundation Transitional and Day Care Home No. 1

Papier-mâché products, ceramics, and small and large booklets are made at the Szalóki Street location.

Drawing Workshop

Employer: Patrícia Tavasz

Our workshop has been operating under the leadership of Tóth R.Anita since 2020. The average number of employees is 12, of which one is the workshop leader and one assistant. The main profile of our workshop is drawing activities. Our main product is the small (10 x 15 cm) notebook. Many people participate in the production of the notebook. This is a multi-phase work process. Starting from cutting cardboard sheets to standard sizes to packaging the finished product.

Ceramics Workshop

Employer: Janka Járay

I have been running the workshop for more than four years. My goal is to introduce the group members to as many techniques and procedures as possible in the field of object creation and decoration. The decoration and painting of objects shaped by hand with great care are all unique creations. I think it is important that the creators find which procedure is closest to them, what subject they like to create on.

I give the workshop participants complete freedom in their creations and allow their individual interests to emerge. I believe that this freer creation brings greater joy, a sense of achievement and a desire to be creative to the group members. My goal during the workshops is to create unique products that the participants enjoy designing, decorating and creating.

Another important aspect of the ceramics workshop is that the artistic quality and value-creating work of disabled and autistic artists becomes visible through the completed ceramics through exhibitions and online platforms.

Paper workshop

Employment coordinator: Anita Réka Tóth

I have been the head of the workshop since 2020. Our workshop has an average of ten people working, where each creator participates in a work process/processes that suits their abilities. In our workshop, not only bowls and containers are made, but also furniture. My goal is to develop the independence of those working in the workshop and unleash their creativity.

We soak the torn paper in water, grind it up, remove the water and mix it with wallpaper paste, resulting in a plasticine-like mass that we can shape freehand or with a stencil. After drying, the products are painted with acrylic paint and/or color paste. All our products receive a layer of varnish at the end, which makes them "waterproof".

Down Foundation Zagreb Nursing Home

Our adult clients create truly special products with heart and soul in the Foundation's craft workshops, including: ceramics: flower pots, mugs, bowls, other utility and decorative objects, paper baskets, trays, boxes made of recycled newspaper - hand-painted or decorated with decoupage technique, figurines made of recycled leftover clothing, curtains and tablecloths, dolls, and scented pillows filled with various herbs.

We are happy to use wood raw materials for hand-painted or decoupage-decorated boxes, trays, tissue and napkin holders. Our employees make felt key chains, bags, and other seasonal decorations and gifts (door knockers, wreaths, etc.) under the guidance and support of our professional assistants. Our clients are employed and receive a salary as a result of their work, they have an independent income, like all working people. It is a great joy for our clients when they see the result of their work, that the products that come out of their hands are sold and are liked by others, because for them, the success of their products is the greatest recognition!

We use the proceeds from our sales mainly for purchasing raw materials and product development, but our long-term goals also include renovating and expanding our employment workshops and developing our toolkit.

"...art is when eternity shines through reality..."
R. Steiner

In addition to handmade products, we also offer photos and works of fine art from the products of the phototherapy and art workshop.

The essence of art therapy is non-judgmentalism. It is a therapeutic method that uses the processes of art. It does not primarily serve aesthetic or artistic purposes, but rather to allow a person to express their inner feelings during the creative process. There is no good or beautiful, spoiled or unsuccessful creation if the feelings expression is realizedIn addition to experiencing the joy of creation, the goal of our classes is not only to maintain mental health, but also to also so that we can get involved in employment in some way. The more than nEvery project in our art workshop, which has been operating for over 10 years, is about the excitement of experimentation and discovery. About so that we can accomplish all set goals and tasks in a way that ensures let's do it, how much color, heart, form, freshness, courage, faith lies in our creators with intellectual disabilities deep in their souls, which becomes tangible to the outside world through their images.

By purchasing the artists' images, not only the Down Foundation Photo and Art Therapy Artistic Supports his workshop, but the integration of our creators also, because for the outside world too becomes "tangible" is that they create value. It is also important for their self-esteem, as theThe freedom of creation is a step towards the freedom of the soul.

Our images can also be purchased in digital form, which can be downloaded in maximum format, once after ordering and paying.

(I think let's stick to 20 Euros – that's approx. 7500 HUF now)

The recommended sizes are:

A3 (approx. 30×45) -15000

A2 (approx. 40×60) – 20000

50×75 – 25000 HUF

Our images are custom sized, so the size of the entire image of the reproduction will also vary. The ordered size image will be edited - upon request, with the name of the creator indicated.

We recommend personal collection (Lágymányosi), and the parcel delivery service is also good, but the foam cardboard is fragile... of course, it is understandable if you are from Zalaegerszeg or a to wander not choosing personal pickup...