Hungary is a country in transition that has no real tradition of peer helping. A qualitative study was carried out involving 13 peer helpers of two kinds (a) age-based peers, and (b) way-of-life-based peers (fellow helpers). The motivations for and the processes of becoming a peer helper were analyzed. Results showed the largest difference being that the motivation for becoming an aged-based peer helper tended to involve aspirations for a professional helping career, whereas way-of-life-based peer helpers typically involved recovery narratives. The experiences suggest that a helping system involving civil society (peers) might develop from a state-controlled help system.