Local services
The initiative “Move, Debrecen!” has found a new location in the Tócóskert, in the Vörösmarty Mihály Elementary School and Primary Art School of Debrecen, which was announced at a press conference by Diána Széles, Deputy Mayor of Debrecen, Csaba Papp, Director of the Debrecen Institute of Primary Care and Health Promotion (Daefi) and András Varga, Municipal Representative on the 5th of February 2024.
The “Move, Debrecen!” initiative was created to provide free exercise for residents who lead sedentary lifestyles but want to change this situation, making it an active, fun, community-building lifestyle. Regular exercise and lifestyle changes can do a lot for our own health.
The movement was launched on the 26th of October 2021, and so far a total of 54, 236 residents have been participated in it. Some people take part every weekday, others maybe only once a week, but the most important thing is that they move.
As a typical example of the popularity of the movement, Deputy Mayor of Debrcen Diána Széles. said that the “dancing for joy” session in the Csapókert had to be extended after the first week by starting another group because so many people were interested. Since then, the popularity of the programme has only grown, which is why the budget needs to be expanded, she explained. The deputy mayor thanked Csaba Papp, Director of the Debrecen Institute for Primary Care and Health Promotion (Daefi) and Evelin Kovács, Health Promotion Coordinator, for their help in setting up and running the programme. They were also very helpful in launching the programmes at the new location of the Vörösmarty Mihály Primary School and Elementary Art School in Debrecen, which of course also needed the strong support of the Debrecen School District Centre and the Director of the institution, István Sipos. The programmes typically took place in the Deafi, in municipal institutions and in cultural centres, she stressed. Now, all that is needed is for the people of Tócóskert to take advantage of this opportunity.
András Varga, the district’s local government representative, called the press conference one of the most important of his political career. He said that the opening of the Tócóskert community garden could be compared to it in terms of importance. With the announcement that from now on, the programmes of the initiative “Move Debrecen!”, residents will no longer have to travel to more distant locations and more people who want to move will be able to take part in the activities.
The following regular programmes will start at Vörösmarty School from the 8th of February 2024: yoga on Thursdays from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm; back exercises on Mondays from 6.00 pm to 7.00 pm, zumba from 7.00 pm to 8.00 pm; body shaping aerobics on Wednesdays from 6.00 pm to 7.00 pm, zumba from 7.00 pm to 8.00 pm.
What participants will need is a polyfoam mat, comfortable clothing, drinking water, towels and sports shoes (change of shoes to enter the gym). “Given the awareness of exercise, the attitude of residents to healthy lifestyles and the interest, hopefully the programmes will be so great that the gym will soon ‘outgrow’ the gym,” the MP said, expressing his hope. András Varga wished everyone good exercise and a change of lifestyle, and promised to join in himself.
As Csaba Papp, Director of the Debrecen Institute of Primary Care and Health Promotion (Daefi), said, as one of the founding members of the “Move, Debrecen!” movement, he is very proud to be here, as the Vörösmarty School gym is now the eighth venue for non-outdoor programmes in the city. The first steps of the movement were not easy, for example, the first thematic walk was attended by only four people, but the programmes gradually gained in popularity.
Debrecen is developing well, it is a caring city, but with metropolitan life comes a lack of physical activity for its citizens. The “Move, Debrecen!” movement aims to raise awareness of the importance of physical activity by giving people the opportunity and the chance to do so. The physical activity programmes are led by professionals, dietary advice is given by experts, and the health promotion centre at 11 Szent Anna Street – which can be visited by appointment – has extensive equipment for screening tests.
Csaba Papp stressed that the aim is to ensure that residents of Debrecen maintain their health as much as possible into old age. Everyone can do the most to achieve this, but the city government and now the Debrecen School District Centre are also partners.
Source: Debrecen.hu
