'Joyful Beginnings' in Transcarpathia Too! Caritas Hungary's Successful Cross-Border Assistance

This year, Caritas Hungary (CH) has once again provided significant support to disadvantaged children at the start of the school year as part of its "Joyful Beginnings" Back-To-School Campaign. In addition to nearly 10,000 students in Hungary, schoolchildren belonging to the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia also received significant assistance in the form of school supply donations.

At the September 3 event in Nagyszőlős, CH distributed twenty bicycles, Hungarian-language textbooks, school bags, and other school supplies to Perényi Zsigmond Secondary School, and to children supported by Caritas Nagyszőlős. Additional school bags will be distributed throughout the month of September in the Upper Tisza region, Uzhhorod, Mukachevo, Berehove, and Tiszaújlak, supporting a total of 150 Hungarian-speaking students in the war-torn region.

Mónika Nyibilevics, principal of Perényi Zsigmond Secondary School, opened the event. She presented the history of the Hungarian school in Nagyszőlős, which dates back to 1946 and, after many hardships, is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its re-establishment this year. The school teaches students from grades 1 to 12 and operates in the historical building of the former county hall. Caritas Hungary had previously donated desks and chairs to furnish the classrooms, and the Hungarian government has also provided financial support for the building’s renovation on multiple occasions. The principal stressed: "This building means much more to us than just a school. It is one of the headquarters of the Hungarian community in Nagyszőlős. We protect, nurture, and care for it, and as long as your caring love remains, we also have the strength to stand our ground, believing that the Hungarian community does have a future here in Transcarpathia. On behalf of parents, staff and students, we would like to express our gratitude for keeping the fate of the Hungarian children in Transcarpathia close to your hearts.”

Gábor Écsy, national director of Caritas Hungary, explained that the organization's back-to-school program, which started in August, aims to ease the financial burdens of families at the beginning of the school year. The program has been extended beyond the borders to ensure that the start of the school year in Transcarpathia is also joyful. The students received donations similar to those given to their Hungarian peers: school bags, textbooks, and notebooks. Addressing the students dressed in their uniforms, Gábor Écsy emphasized: "The school bags contain much more than simply school supplies: they carry the caring love we want to express towards you; the joy we feel that you are here, learning, that this school exists, and that it continues its mission despite the storms of history. We wish you a good school year, a successful one, and that you may thrive in knowledge and skills. To the teachers, I wish you strength and patience to fully fulfill your vocation and mission."

The ceremonial handover of the supplies was honored by the presence of Miklós Soltész, Secretary of State for Church and Nationality Relations of the Prime Minister's Office; József Bacsakai, Consul General of Hungary in Uzhhorod; Dr. István Gyebnár, Head of Mission at Hungary’s Consulate in Berehove; and Sándor Német, Director of Caritas in Nagyszőlős.

In his speech, Miklós Soltész thanked the teachers and parents for their efforts in preserving the Hungarian identity. He remarked that in the past two and a half years, much support has been sent to Transcarpathia and inner Ukraine, thanks to charitable organizations assisting the work of the Hungarian government. Thus, he was pleased to accompany Caritas Hungary on its donation journey this time, and re-affirmed that charitable activities will continue in the future. Addressing the educators and reflecting on the challenges of war, he highlighted: "I would also like to express my gratitude that, even amongst enduring the difficulties, sufferings and pain of separated families, you keep fighting for the younger generation, which is the key of survival."

The "Lucky Team" handball team of the secondary school also received a mascot: from now on, a bear dressed in Caritas Hungary-colors will accompany them to competitions, which was received by the team captain. At the end of the event, the students received their personalized school bags, and each one of them could choose a bicycle to use for commuting to school.

Caritas Hungary’s back-to-school campaign runs from July 31 to September 15. All charitable donations received during this period will be entirely used to support schoolchildren. Online donations can also be made through the Caritas Hungary website (www.karitasz.hu) under the "Back to School" section.

Katolikus Karitász - Caritas Hungarica
Images: Lambert Attila / Magyar Kurír