Sponsor's update from Koszeg, Hungary

Child sponsorship update from the SOS Children's Village Kőszeg, Hungary from Winter 2008.

As you see Christmas is coming and another year is over. This year was a special year because our SOS children’s village became 15 years old. Preparations for the celebration were done during the whole year. At the moment 97 children live in 13 houses.

Let me tell you something about some events in June on. The first weekend was rather exciting for two families because they had the chance to spend these days in the summer cottage of the Erste Bank at the Lake Balaton and 8 children could take part in the family programme as well organised by an Ltd. The most exciting programme was the meeting of Harley Davidson owners.

Our children took part in that meeting and they could ride not only on Quads and children motor cycles but also on these famous motor cycles too. They also saw a motorcycle show. This month ended with the traditional visit of 22 children in the north German city, Borken. They visited a basis for helicopters, a very nice spa and they were travelling on the river Fulda by ship. During this time kindergarten children spent one week at the Lake Balaton. July was the month of holidays.

Smaller children went to the Lake Balaton, and children between the age of 7and 17 spent four wonderful weeks in the international SOS holiday camp in Caldonazzo. Our children won the 1st place there on the Euro football championship but they also won some 2nd and 3rd places at several competitions too. 3 families had the possibility to enjoy the hospitality of the Marriot Hotel in Budapest and could see the great firework on the occasion of the Hungarian national holiday on 20th August.

Events in Koszeg, Hungary

Five of our football fans had an opportunity to see the match Hungary - Montenegro live. So came summer to an end and school started. At the beginning of October two children were chosen for taking part in the great Hungarian sailing competition on the Adria in Croatia. They came back full of adventures.

During the summer holiday preparations were done for the anniversary. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t friendly - it was really cold, windy and rainy. Children of the 3 children’s villages contributed to the festival program and dance groups as well as skipping rope groups made the event more glorious. Children could take part in a technical show of the police and the fire-service. Small children had several possibilities for jumping and creeping. Goulash soup had to be cooked of course and it was great that over 30 people delegation from Borken participated at the celebration. In November the traditional competition in telling tales will start and every primary schools of the city will take part in it.

As I mentioned at the beginning Christmas is approaching and our children are already preparing some small surprises for their mates, SOS-sisters and brothers and for their biological families.

Hereby I would like to thank you on behalf of all the children and co-workers of our children’s village for all your care and attention during the year and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Imre Szilágyi
Village director