Debrecen4U August 17, 2026

Special Exhibition on Disability Acceptance Opens in Memorial Garden

Today saw the opening of a fence exhibition titled The Memorial Garden Tells a Story About Acceptance – Meet Elmer, the Patchwork Elephant. Conceived by the Hajdú-Bihar County Association of Parents of People with Multiple Disabilities, the exhibition centres on a colourful patchwork elephant who reminds us that it is precisely our differences that make the world more diverse and valuable. This is the Association’s second fence exhibition during the Flower Carnival period, with a message expressed this time through David McKee’s much-loved storybook character.

Edit Bódor, President of the Debrecen Charity Board and moderator of the opening event, said that the first opening of this year’s The Memorial Garden Tells a Story initiative is about acceptance, with further stories and messages to welcome visitors here later. On Monday, 17 August, from 11am, further exhibitions will tell stories in the Memorial Garden about enduring values, science and the magic of coming together. Members of the Debrecen Charity Board, pupils of the Immánuel Home and School, and the community of Gávavencsellő will join forces to decorate the garden in honour of the Debrecen Flower Carnival.

Ágnes Pápai-Tarr, President of the Hajdú-Bihar County Association of Parents of People with Multiple Disabilities, stressed at the opening that Elmer is not special simply because he is colourful and patchwork, but because he is true to himself and brings joy to those around him. She said they also wanted to show that people living with multiple disabilities should not be seen solely in terms of the greater attention and care they require. If we take a closer look, we can also experience the love, perseverance, joy of life and smiles that they are able to give to others. She stressed that it is a responsibility for all of us to ensure that people living with multiple disabilities can also feel at home in this world.

Deputy Mayor Diána Széles said that the Hajdú-Bihar County Association of Parents of People with Multiple Disabilities has now established a tradition at the Memorial Garden, and that it is particularly important for this initiative to deliver its message to the people of Debrecen and visitors to the city during the Flower Carnival period. She highlighted that the Flower Carnival is one of Debrecen’s most important events, when many people turn their attention to the city and the values it conveys. She stressed that the exhibition sends the message that love and a sense of belonging are alive in Debrecen, and that the city is proud of the communities that give these values real meaning every day.

The deputy mayor highlighted that the creation of the exhibition itself is a good example of how values received from others can be passed on. She added that the work of the Association’s members, families and supporters forms a “chain of love” between generations, in which everyone contributes their own knowledge, attention and energy to the shared cause.

Diána Széles specifically thanked Ágnes Pápai-Tarr for her dedicated work representing the Association and the cause of children living with multiple disabilities. She stressed that every community needs people who are willing to advance shared causes, bring people together and create opportunities for the values of children and their families to become visible.

István Oláh, Presiding Pastor of the Debrecen Great Reformed Church Congregation, spoke about how the most important values of the Flower Carnival – joy, diversity and community – are all present in the exhibition. He stressed that they want to build a community in which our differences are regarded as something valuable, while recognising that we still share a community. Children and young people living with multiple disabilities are also part of this world, with their own values, abilities and qualities of which they can be proud. He stressed that every person matters, and that by being able to demonstrate and live out this belief, we can already make the world a better place.

Members of the Hajdú-Bihar County Association of Parents of People with Multiple Disabilities, families and a whole community of supporters were involved in creating the exhibition. The organisers are encouraging everyone to stop for a moment in front of the Memorial Garden’s fence over the coming weeks, discover Elmer’s story and take its most important message about acceptance and diversity with them.

The exhibition is open to visitors until 31 August 2026.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu