Balogh Judit September 24, 2025

Pallag also has a location for the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative

Now, those interested in Pallag will also have the opportunity to regularly participate in the indoor Zumba and yoga classes organized by the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative, starting from September 29, 2025, twice a week—on Monday and Wednesday evenings—in the indoor hall of the DVSC Football Academy. The details were announced at a press conference by Deputy Mayor Diána Széles, Balázs Makray, Managing Director of the DVSC Football Academy, Csaba Papp, Director of the Debrecen Primary Care and Health Development Institute (Daefi), and Róbert Juráskó, the local government representative of the district, on September 23, 2025.

Deputy Mayor Diána Széles briefly looked back at the period surrounding the creation of the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative. As she said, “In 2021, the city government, together with the University of Debrecen and the Debrecen Primary Care and Health Development Institute, prepared a health plan, one of the significant lessons of which was that the majority of Debrecen residents—nearly 70 percent—do not exercise at all and do not exercise regularly. However, it also turned out that if there were organized exercise programs, many people would be happy to participate in them. This led to the creation of the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative and its programs, organized with the collaboration of numerous partners who provide venues. The initiative offers a variety of physical activities—such as walking, running, Zumba, yoga, spine exercises, aerobics, and Pilates—based on the needs and interests of Debrecen residents. It is a huge achievement that since the beginning of 2021, a total of nearly 270 thousand people have participated in the various programs of the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative—including young people moving within the framework of the school program.” The deputy mayor emphasized the programs of the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative were not available in Pallag until now. However, following the needs and initiative of the residents, the DVSC Football Academy initially said yes to the initiative’s request and provided the venue for those who wanted to exercise. According to the deputy mayor, the role of indoor venues is very significant in terms of the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative’s programs because they provide a more stable opportunity for truly regular exercise and for participants to meet regularly than weather-dependent outdoor venues. Diána Széles also thanked Balázs Makray, the managing director of the DVSC Football Academy, for providing the space, as the academy’s indoor hall is used very intensively for its core activities, so every minute that can be spent there with externally organized programs is very valuable. Pallagi is the 18th location of the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative’s programs in the city, and the fact that it is possible to participate in Zumba and yoga classes here was decided based on a survey of the needs of the people living here, and it can even be expanded further in the future. This also indicates that the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative is trying to take into account the needs of the population as fully as possible.

Balázs Makray, the managing director of the DVSC Football Academy, said that the academy is operated by a non-profit public benefit limited liability company, which is also owned by the city.

DVSC—regardless of the sport or age group team—cannot ask the city for anything that it does not help with. Therefore, the DVSC Football Academy also thought that when they can help the city in return—in this case, the exemplary “Move, Debrecen!” initiative—then they are happy to be available. Balázs Makray expressed his hope that they will be the right hosts for these great exercise programs, which will also represent a new color in the hall, which is primarily used for football players and ball bouncing.

According to Csaba Papp, the director of the Debrecen Primary Care and Health Development Institute (Daefi), it is gratifying that the number of indoor locations offering exercise opportunities—community spaces and schools—is constantly expanding, and now the DVSC Football Academy has also become a member of this circle. Csaba Papp also recalled the period of the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative, when the first programs were primarily morning walks, spinal exercises, and yoga classes. Then there were demands for the initiative to offer other forms of exercise at other times—even late in the evening, after work, after taking care of the family—so that younger people and mothers with children could also participate in the programs. There was also an example where a yoga session that started at one location was accompanied by modest interest, but the Pilates class that started instead was very popular. Csaba Papp emphasized that the measure of the success of “Move, Debrecen!” is the activity of the people of Debrecen; therefore, the direction and content of the initiative’s development are determined by the needs of the city’s citizens. The director of Daefi encouraged everyone to express their needs and share their ideas, and “Move, Debrecen!” is trying to implement them.

​​Róbert Juráskó, the local government representative of the district, highlighted that the population of Pallag is constantly growing, and in parallel with this, their demand for community programs such as the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative programs is also growing. Thanks to the organizers that the initiative’s programs could also appear in Pallag, and thanks to the DVSC Football Academy for providing the venue for this. As the representative explained, “The people of Pallag followed every moment of the sessions of “Move, Debrecen!” so closely that they even specifically requested which instructors should lead the classes for them.” Róbert Juráskó also mentioned that they also thought about allowing the children of mothers who participate in the Zumba classes to exercise a little so that—if the participants provide appropriate supervision—there will be an opportunity for the children to play a little in one part of the indoor hall without disturbing the adults doing gymnastics. The representative said that in the coming days, the residents of Pallag will be informed about the local programs of “Move, Debrecen!” through flyers and social media.

​​Following the press conference, Zumba instructor Andrea Orosz led an exercise demonstration.

At the DVSC Football Academy’s indoor hall in Pallag, interested parties can take part in Zumba classes on Mondays between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. starting on September 29, 2025, and yoga classes on Wednesdays between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. starting on October 1. The academy also provides changing rooms. The indoor hall can be accessed through the main entrance of the academy.

Source and photo credit:debrecen.hu