Community Camp
Zamárdi, July 25-31, 2016
A private person’s donation made it possible for twenty-three Roma students from the Tiszaroff microregion to spend a vacation week in Zamárdi at Balaton. The students travelled to Zamárdi by buses. The bus-driver also did not accept any fee for his services, except his fuel-costs. We are grateful for the private person’s generous donation and the bus-driver’s kindly offer.
The journey itself was a huge experience for the students, because the people who live in this microregion hardly get the chance to go this far.
The week before the vacation was full of excitements, the parents, grandparents and children often inquired about the schedule of vacation, the programs and what to prepare for the holiday. A team of specialists (teachers, a psychologist and an animator), a volunteering mother of one of the students and two volunteers were responsible for organizing the vacation.
Nothing can show more about the students’ enthusiasm, but the fact that immediately after their arrival to Zamárdi, everybody packed out in their room and went directly to the Balaton-coast. Of course, they were not satisfied with only watching Balaton, they wanted to bath in it. The early evening bathing became an unforgettable, nice experience for them.
The first night was quite difficult for the children without their parents, because none of them had ever been far from their home and family.
On the first morning, exercises energized the group. The morning program was also bathing, the students hardly left the water. Afternoon bathing, playing soccer, volleyball and joint music were on the schedule. Movie night closed the day. The second night was more peaceful and relaxed.
On the next day a huge surprise waited for the students. The group could participate in a sailing tour and everybody could admire the water surface and other coasts of Balaton. The sailing checked the Sajkodi-bay and after a big tour the group returned to the port. The students did not want to leave the boat, some of them even want to choose a sailor career path. After the sailing, bathing was the program followed by supper and an evening soccer game.
The fourth day also had surprises. After breakfast, the group took their packed lunch and went to Tihany. After a big walk, taking the ferryboat was also a huge experience for everybody, and. The program in Tihany with its monuments and city tour was extraordinary, not to mention the ice-creams. Because of the high temperature, the group returned the camp earlier as it was planned, and later this afternoon bathing was the main activity. Movie night was the last program on this day.
The students wanted to bath as mush as possible, so on the fifth and sixth day’s focus was on the Hungarian Sea as the most important experience of this vacation. Of course, other activities were organized too, like craftsmanship, Number War and sports. On the last day’s evening, our group challenged the neighboring camp in a soccer game. The Tiszaroff Microregion Team won the game 2:0.
The last day was about packing, the bus took the 300 km slowly, but the experiences stay in the children’s memory. Everybody was happy to meet their family and since this vacation they are happy to recall these experiences.
The organizers’ important aspect was to choose a camp place which can provide high-level catering service, so this apartment house was chosen after careful consideration in order to provide quality resting and relaxation opportunity for those who come from difficult situations and constant hardship.
The group had memorable, meaningful and rich experiences in Zamárdi.
Zamárdi, July, 2016