Local services
The charity film screening at the Apolló Cinema 2025 on the 10th of April was a novel way to get in the mood for Easter and spring break. It was organised in cooperation with the Debrecen Charity Board and the event-organising nonprofit Ltd. of Debrecen, Főnix Rendezvényszervező.
The event was attended by children, mainly of primary school age, who helped with Advent fundraising. They were, on the one hand, the students of the Svetits Catholic Kindergarten, Primary School, Grammar School and Dormitory in Debrecen, the Saint Joseph Kindergarten, Primary School, Grammar School and Dormitory, and the Debrecen Reformed College Primary School. On the other hand, the children of families living in various temporary and residential homes operated by the ReFoMix Public Nonprofit Ltd. and the Greek Catholic Church. From Székely Land, children sponsored by the St. Francis of Devai Foundation of Franciscan monk Csaba Böjte attended the event.
The organisers hosted more than 170 children in total. In addition to the film screening provided by Főnix, there was also, of course, popcorn and soft drinks, which are closely related to going to the cinema, thanks to the support of Harro Höfliger Hungary Ltd.
Deputy Mayor of Debrecen and co-chair of the Debrecen Charity Board, Diána Széles, said in connection with the event, “The board has strived to be able to help all age groups in the city over the past ten years. Now is the time for the board to thank those who make this helping activity possible with their support and work. Among the supporters are many school-age children, who, for example, organise collections and present shows. This visit to the cinema is partly a thank you to them and, on the other hand, a gift to their peers in need. In this family atmosphere, everyone gives and everyone receives something.” Diána Széles also said that they strive to ensure that the existence of the Debrecen Charity Board is not only about helping activities, but also about community building and ensuring that all those who participate in voluntary work experience what it is like to be together as a community, for example in the framework of events that provide a cultural experience. So I would like to make events like today more regular in the future.
HR Manager of Harro Höfliger Hungary Ltd., Péter Kanizsár, expressed his joy at participating in this initiative and especially thanked the teachers for their work on behalf of the children. He also reminded children to live life to its fullest, enjoy the positive, joyful moments of life, and try to pass on this happiness to others. If we can do this, we can make the whole city happier.
The president of the Debrecen Charity Board, Edit Bódor, was the event’s initiator. During the last Christmas gift-giving period, she received countless soul-building impulses. She wanted to repay this in some way, to thank, and that’s when she decided that as the next holiday, Easter, she would bring together those children who had collected donations with all their heart and soul, and who, with their shows and nativity scenes, further coloured and enriched the gift-giving and other Advent events.
This decision was then expanded to include the children who had been helped, both from the city and the surrounding area, and from across the border, from Székelyhíd, to come to this occasion. She wanted to reinforce to the children that giving is good, but it is also necessary for others to notice and thank them. For this event, the Debrecen Charity Board found a good supporting partner in Harro Höfliger Hungary Ltd.. Since they had all experienced how much joy such an event can bring to children, they started thinking about implementing further similar events together. Edit Bódor highlighted that they are also thinking about adults. On Tuesday, the 15th of April 2025, at 5:30 p.m., a similar film screening will be organised at Apolló Cinema, partly for the employees of the Debrecen Charity Board member organisations. The title of the animated film about Jesus to be shown before the premiere is “King of Kings.” The screening, which can be found on Apollo Cinema’s Facebook page, among others, is open to anyone and free of charge, but prior registration is required at this site: https://bit.ly/44qXdYm.
The children watched the animated film “Wild Robot”. However, its title does not suggest this at first glance; it is about taking responsibility for each other, friendship, the strength of the soul, forming a cohesive community and transforming into a family. As the Head of the Apolló Cinema, Tamás Fejér said, “Thanks are also due to the film’s distributor, UIP-Dunafilm, which, when it learned on what occasion the cinema wanted to screen this film, made it available in a supportive manner.”
Source and photo credit:debrecen.hu
