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Giving is only possible if we prepare our souls for it, so for the time of Advent, the Memorial Garden will be transformed into an Advent Soul Garden, where it will be possible to meet, deepen and revive the tradition of the living nativity. The Advent Soul Garden, currently under construction, will be open from the 1st of December 2024 to the 6th of January 2025.
Among the first decorations of the Advent Soul Garden are the small Christmas trees, which were decorated by representatives of the 30 member organisations of the Debrecen Charity Board on the 27th of November 2024. At the press conference organized on this occasion, Edit Bódor, president of the Debrecen Charity Board, said in her opening remarks, “Today is another exceptional occasion, but the board would like to build a tradition on it”.
Diána Széles, co-chair of the Debrecen Charity Board, said the board has received much from Debrecen, entrepreneurs, and donors in the past ten years. They thought that in addition to this most prominent umbrella organization, the Debrecen Charity Board, they should also better show the member organizations those civil communities whose members have been working for Debrecen in their field for years with heart and soul.
The fact that the member organizations of the Charity Board can also show themselves in this form is a fair indication of what love and the experience of belonging mean in Debrecen. The staff of the board’s member organisations give a lot of love, and they pour love into their activities. The Advent Garden of Souls can now provide a framework for this interactivity, which, amidst the anticipation of Advent, can also draw attention to the fact that the holidays of many people in need can be made more beautiful with kind-hearted donations. The Debrecen Charity Board can only help those in need at this time of year if donors support its activities. Diána Széles thanked István Oláh, the president-pastor of the Debrecen-Great Church Reformed Church Parish, for being presented in the Memorial Garden and for the opportunity to create the Advent Soul Garden.She also thanked the community of the Debrecen Vocational Training Centre and the Kós Károly Art Secondary School, Technical School and Dormitory for the elements of the garden.
Tünde Szabadka Vargáné, Director General of the Kós Károly Art Secondary School, Technical School and Dormitory, said the Debrecen Vocational Training Centre and the Debrecen Regional Centre and its institutions joined the work. For example, students from the art secondary school decorated the service rooms of the artificial ice rink on Kossuth Square. This year, the school’s workshop has also been working on the festive decorations for the “Give a Go!” fundraising house in the Advent Soul Garden. Santa Claus will be waiting for him on the ground floor of the New Town Hall with an exhibition of pupils’ artwork.
According to Sándor Szilágyi, Director General of the Debrecen Vocational Training Centre, vocational training is not only about training the right professionals but also about raising awareness. That is why they are delighted to help with soul-building events like this one, which help to cultivate traditions and symbolise togetherness. This year, they have also launched several charity campaigns in which students and teachers have actively participated. Working together builds a sense of community and helps everyone feel better about their community. One such activity is the genuine assistance in creating the Advent Soul Garden. The students and teachers of the School of Construction Technology and Technical Vocational Training of Debrecen Vocational Training Center and the Creative Technical School of Debrecen Vocational Training Center participated in this project with unprecedented attitude, diligence and drive. Within a short time, they had completed the furniture and decorations for the garden. He thanked everyone for their hard work, cooperation and commitment. He wished that Advent brings peace, love, and tranquillity and that the coming year would be full of new opportunities, successes, and joint achievements.
István Oláh, the president-pastor of the Reformed parish of Debrecen-Nagytemplom, also emphasised the power of unity. He said he would like those who enter the Advent Soul Garden to receive spiritual guidance. There will be helpers in the garden to talk to and perhaps give donations to those in need. There will also be guided spiritual walks in the garden at pre-announced times when it will be possible to reflect, be quiet, take account, and place on the prayer tree a prayer, a thought, a question to the Lord. These walks will end in the prayer room behind the Great Church. István Oláh explained that it was once part of the enormous hall where the foundation of the Reformed Church was proclaimed in 1567 and the decision to join the Calvinist branch of the Reformation. In addition, the Great Church will host three Advent candle-lighting ceremonies in the city this year.
Edit Bódor, President of the Debrecen Charity Board, said that the Debrecen Charity Board would also like to give something in return to the donors who help its work, so after the first Advent candle lighting, on the 1st of December 2024, the members of the Board will thank the people of Debrecen for their support and attention in the past years with a charity reception in the Advent Soul Garden. On the second Sunday of Advent, the Women’s Association of the Debrecen-Great Church Reformed Church Parish will host a charity event. At the same time, on the third Sunday, visitors can taste the delicacies of the teachers and students of the Debrecen Vocational Training Centre. On the fourth Sunday, the 43rd Főnix Scout Troop will help everyone bring the flame of Bethlehem into their homes.
They helped to make the Advent Soul Garden a reality:
Angyalliget Foundation (Anikó Koós); Csokonai National Theatre Debrecen; Debrecen Charity Board; Debrecen-Nagytemplomi Reformed Parish; Irinyi János Technical College; Creative Technical College of the Debrecen Vocational Training Center; Kós Károly Art Secondary School, Technical College and Dormitory; Gábor Kustár visual artist and József Soltész, managing director of Sofém Ltd.
Hosts of the fundraising event in the “Add tovább” house:
Bihar Association of State Cared-for People.
Cívis Multisport Sports Association
Baptist Church of Debrecen
Debrecen Citizens’ Guard Association for the City of Cívis
Debrecen Jewish Community Ráchel Women’s Association
EU-Roma National Association
Forrás Association of Spiritual Helpers
Forrás Spiritual Help Centre
Children’s Hope Foundation
Hajdú Law Enforcement Sports Association
Hajdú Special Research and Rescue Association
Archdiocese of Hajdúdorog
“Hajrá Futás” Youth, Cultural and Sports Association
Haláp Public Benefit Association for Children
Hera Association
Regional Association of the Visually Impaired of Northern Great Plain
Lelkierő Fiatalon for Youth Association of Debrecen
Lépéselőny Public Benefit Association
Hungarian Maltese Relief Service Association (Debrecen Group)
Hungarian Ecumenical Aid Organisation Social and Development Centre Debrecen
Hungarian League Against Cancer Debrecen Basic Organisation and Support Service
Hungarian Reformed Charity Foundation
Hungarian Red Cross Hajdú-Bihar County Organisation
Dorcas Hungarian Relief Organisation
Matúra and Natúra Foundation
Mosolyvirág Association of Large Families in Debrecen
Ördög-Papír Foundation for Children
Refomix Nonprofit Public Benefit Ltd.
Day Care Institution of the Caritas Organization of the St. Anne’s Parish
Új Egészség Foundation
Source and photo credit:debrecen.hu
