Culture, heritage preservation, education – Government spokesperson Alexandra Szentkirályi on a working visit

Szentkirályi Alexandra, government spokesperson, arrived on a working visit to Beregszász on June 9th. During her visit, she visited the Perényi Cultural Mansion in Beregardó, which serves as a central location for the education of the Tulipán Tanoda Hungarian School of Folk Music and Folk Art. She also presented the many Csodasarok to the winners of the online game Miénk a város!.

At the beginning of the event, the government spokesperson and his entourage watched the Dance of Unity performed by the Tulipán Tanoda’s specialised group at the Beregszász Basic Kindergarten of P. Frangepán Katalin Grammar School. The 70 kindergarten children were prepared by Gabriella Szilágyiné Tóth, folk game instructor at the Tanoda.

The guests were welcomed and greeted by Andzselika Kepics, the Director of the Tulipán Tanoda.

The event was honored by the presence of Szentkirályi Alexandra, government spokesperson, Katalin Kardosné Gyurkó, president of the National Association of Large Families, Dr. Gréta Tünde Kovács, chief advisor of the Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister, István Gyebnár, mission general of the Hungarian Consulate in Beregszász, Ferenc Papp, consul of the Hungarian Consulate in Ungvár, Péter Erdei, consul of the Hungarian Consulate in Beregszász, Ildikó Orosz, president of the Ferenc Rákóczi II Transcarpathian Hungarian College, which founded and supports the Tulipán Tanoda, István Csernicskó, rector of Rákóczi College, Éva Fodor, office manager of the Transcarpathian Hungarian Pedagogical Association, Marianna Pallagi, director of the Pro Cultura Subcarpathica civil organization and Andrea Jakab, acting principal of P. Frangepán High School.

“Culture and traditions are not easy to preserve in the 21st century, not to mention if other factors are holding you back. Unfortunately, Hungarians living here in Transcarpathia experience this. But we Hungarians know that what is ours we cannot let go of, we must fight for, and no Hungarian is or will ever be alone in this. The Tulipán Tanoda network is a shining example that preserving Hungarian culture, nurturing traditions and protecting Hungarian folk values are not only possibilities but also demands, as just this academic year, these workshops employ 2,033 children with the help of 63 instructors,”

said Szentkirályi Alexandra, government spokesperson. She added that Hungary is also making efforts to do more for the cultivation of culture, including the online game “Miénk a város!”, whose main message is that every child can contribute to the community through their perseverance and talent.

In her speech, Katalin Kardosné Gyurkó, president of the National Association of Large Families, praised the unity of family, tradition and education.

“I would like to thank the motherland for taking care of us as a real mother, even when we are good and even when we are bad. A mother has unconditional love, and we feel it, because we would not be here today if the motherland had not supported this process”,

said Ildikó Orosz Ildikó, president of the Ferenc Rákóczi Ferenc II Transcarpathian Hungarian College, which founded and supports the Tulipán Tanoda. She then thanked the director of the institution, Andzselika Kepics and her staff, who are teaching the future generation with heart and soul.

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After the welcoming speeches, we were able to watch the video of the Dance of Unity, performed by nearly 2000 students of the Tulipán Tanoda on 4 June, the Day of National Unity, in 10 towns across Transcarpathia – Ungvár, Kisgejőc, Nagydobrony, Beregszász, Nagybereg, Tiszapéterfalva, Nagyszőlős, Csepe, Técső and Rahó.

Afterward, Szentkirályi Alexandra presented the prizes to the winners of the online game Miénk a város!, which included educational toys and books in the Csodasarok package. The winners receive these gifts every year with the cooperation of the Transcarpathian Hungarian Pedagogical Association. This year, 17 students from 15 institutions in Transcarpathia received the fruits of their work.

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Then, Dávid Gajdos and Tamás Orosz, students of the Tulipán Tanoda studying the citera, performed Hungarian folk songs accompanied by their teacher Veronika Markó.

At the end of the event, Marianna Pallagi, director of the Pro Cultura Subcarpathica civil organisation, presented the work of the NGO, emphasising that the Perényi Cultural Mansion is not only a venue for the Tulipán Tanoda’s education, but also a space for the PCS’s cultural and heritage preservation programmes.

Anita Kurmay