Debrecen4U November 7, 2025

“The Move, Debrecen!” initiative is four years old

On November 6, 2025, participants and representatives of the initiative commemorated the anniversary at the starting point of their regular twice-weekly walks in the Great Forest, at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at the Fog Theater. This small, intimate, cheerful “house party” has become a tradition, as every anniversary of the movement’s founding has been celebrated in a similar manner. 

The “Move, Debrecen!” initiative was launched on October 26, 2021, by the Debrecen municipality, in collaboration with the Faculty of Public Health of the University of Debrecen and the Debrecen Institute for Primary Care and Health Development, with the aim of preserving the health of the city’s residents.

Deputy Mayor Diána Széles said at the ceremony that many of those present here have been moving together on the heart-friendly thematic walks almost from the beginning. She also mentioned Imréné Fülöp Császár—Aunt Saci—and Erzsébet Kiss by name, who have become enthusiastic activists of the initiative. In recognition of their lifelong activities in the interest of health awareness, both received the city’s Alfréd Hajós Award in 2024. In her brief speech, Imréné Császár encouraged those present to look at her—despite her many difficulties, she is here, walking the path as long as she can, and she asks others to follow her in this! 

In addition to walks, the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative has now moved more than 270 thousand Debrecen residents over the past four years, offering countless other physical activity and health education activities, health screenings, and school programs. The organizers pay attention to the suggestions and wishes of the participants, and the range is expanding as a result, for example with a knockout tournament for children or, in the future, a numbers war tournament. Diána Széles expressed her joy that the “Move Debrecen!” initiative is being considered a model in more and more settlements in the country and that there are similar initiatives in more and more places. “This is due to nothing other than the fact that a few years ago many of us believed that all this could come true,” emphasized the deputy mayor, who is proud that a very close-knit and friendly community has developed and that the success of the “Move Debrecen!” initiative is the joint success of all of them. And what is most essential and most important: with the help of movement, the power of community, and regular contact, everyone can be happier, because Debrecen is a city that builds and cares for communities!

Csaba Papp, director of the Debrecen Primary Care and Health Development Institute (Daefi), expressed his gratitude to the handful of groups with whom they started, and with the ever-increasing number of participants, they built up the “Move Debrecen!” walks. Everyone who joined understood that they were walking for their lives, giving up a sedentary lifestyle. There is great interest in winter and summer: the highest number on a summer day has been 160, but the number does not drop below 50 even in winter. 

Thanks are due to the city government for supporting the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative, allowing it to expand with new and new movement programs, various exercises, yoga, sensorimotor exercises for the youngest, as well as additional services that point towards a healthier lifestyle, and health screenings that can be used with the Debrecen card. The initiative’s efforts to improve the intention to use screening tests are already showing results, and Csaba Papp encouraged everyone to apply for these tests. The “Move, Debrecen!” initiative is currently offering exercise opportunities at 18 indoor locations in the city, led by a total of more than 70 trainers. The initiative helps us to preserve as much of our health as possible and to live a happier old age.

Deputy Mayor Lajos Barcsa emphasized that sport means a lot to him, and he holds all participants of the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative in high regard because they also value movement in the name of health preservation and the community life connected with it. He assured those present that the local government, based on the opportunities created by the economic development of recent years, is working to ensure that all the resources necessary to finance the free services of the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative for the people of Debrecen are available in the future as well.

Diána Széles also thanked the coordinators Evelin Kovács, Gréta Kerekes, and Zsófia Kanyó for their work on behalf of the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative.

Gréta Kerekes—having finished her career as an active top athlete—joined the initiative last year as a dedicated helper. She considers it very important that everyone, from very young children to the elderly, can be encouraged to exercise. As a former top athlete, she can say that movement is very important for everyone in order to maintain their health. She expressed her hope that the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative will continue to operate in the city for a very long time.

Evelin Kovács said that they are proud of everyone who participates in the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative, and that they try to pay attention to everyone, and that they welcome all new interested parties with great love. They also expect feedback from everyone on how to improve, perfect, and expand the programs, services, and screening tests.

Zsófia Kanyó coordinates the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative’s school program in 41 schools, within the framework of which more than a thousand children exercise every week. As she said, “It is a joy to see how much joy the children have in exercising thanks to the school coordinators, what successes they achieve, and what great communities are formed as a result. All this is worth a treasure!”

On the occasion of the event, Erzsébet Kiss also gifted the celebrants with an occasional poem and also gave away her book titled “About Pensioners to Pensioners” to some lucky participants.

And in the spirit of a healthy lifestyle, the birthday cake was replaced this time with apples, muesli, and pumpkin cookies made in the “smart kitchen” of the Szent Anna Street Health Development Center.

Source and photo credit:debrecen.hu