Emergency Medical Unit Donated By HHRF Has Arrived In Odessa
The Hungarian Human Rights Foundation (HHRF) has partnered with Hungarian American Coalition (HAC) and Carpathian Foundation to purchase and deliver a mobile medical pediatric unit to Odessa Memorial Hospital, which arrived in the southern Ukraine city on August 3rd.
The mobile medical pediatric unit consists of two 20-foot foldable, fully equipped containers (CN20) constructed by Continest Technologies, a Hungarian company that develops container solutions for short-term use. The arrival and placement of the two containers was coordinated by the Ukrainian army stationed at the Odessa Rehabilitation Hospital, as well as the City Council. Fully equipped, the units are being used at the hospital but can be moved to other locations in need of emergency medical care.
Second HHRF Human Rights Workshop Held in Budapest
The Hungarian Human Rights Foundation (HHRF) in cooperation with the National University of Public Service held the Human Rights Workshop for this year’s Reconnect Hungary – Hungarian Birthright Program participants on August 4, 2022 in the Conference Hall of the University, in Budapest, Hungary.
This year, the Human Rights Workshop was held for the second time in Hungary as an integral part of the Reconnect Hungary cultural immersion program to train individuals on human and minority rights issues and encourage them to contribute to the protection of human rights and cultural identity of ethnic Hungarian minorities.
NEWS FLASH: HHRF will also organize a two-day Human Rights Workshop in Washington D.C. November 30 – December 1, when participants will also get the opportunity to visit their elected Congressional representative’s office and meet with decision-makers. Anyone interested in making a larger impact to help Hungarian minorities is encouraged to pre-register NOW at info@hhrf.org as space is limited. The Human Rights Workshop in Washington D.C. is supported by the Bethlen Gábor Alapkezelő Zrt.
Reconnect Hungary Celebrates 10th Anniversary in Budapest
A fun time was had by all at the Hungarian National Museum on August 11 where participants, alumni, supporters and partners gathered to celebrate 10 years of our cultural immersion program.
“More than 11 years ago George Pataki, former governor of New York State, and his daughter, Allison, reached out to László Hámos, founder and president of HHRF with the need for a birthright program aimed at second, third and fourth generation of young Hungarian-Americans who do not speak Hungarian or have lost their Hungarian identities, yet long to be a part of the larger Hungarian diaspora. Relying on the Foundation’s long association with the Governor, he urged HHRF to create such a program, recalled Emese Latkóczy, HHRF executive director, and Reconnect Hungary co-founder. As she said, the social capital created on both sides of the ocean is invaluable. “We encourage participants to join their local Hungarian communities after they go home: volunteer; learn the Hungarian language; study and work in Hungary if they get the chance. They are our future’ – said Emese Latkóczy.
The memorable evening was made possible by the following generous sponsors: David Bell (RH ’13), Bluefield Kft, Ferenc Kott, Hungarian Scout Association in Exteris, Hungarian American Coalition, and Kossuth Foundation.
*The Reconnect Hungary Birthright Program is supported by the Bethlen Gábor Alapkezelő Zrt.
Follow Marcus Kinney’s Journey in Transylvania
Following in the steps of Lianna Hedrick, Sarah Agronow and Sarah Carroll, Marcus Kinney is our 4th Reconnect Transylvania+ Scholarship recipient. Having arrived to Kolozsvár/Cluj, Romania at the beginning of September, Marcus will stay in the unofficial capital of Erdély until May 2023.
Being a Reconnect Transylvania+ Scholarship recipient means Marcus now has the chance to be a part of the Transylvanian Hungarian community. In the mornings, Marcus assists at Sapientia – Hungarian University of Transylvania, using his academic knowledge and English-language skills to further the university’s international relations.
He has already met his new colleagues and pupils at the Hungarian Reformed College (Kolozsvári Református Kollégium) where he will tutor the young students in English. He is so popular that over 100 children signed up for his afternoon classes.
Marcus is 2nd generation Hungarian American; he grew up in Saudi Arabia where his father was a teacher while his Hungarian mother was raising the family’s five children. When he was 14 he moved to the United States to attend the prestigious Northfield Mount Hermon School, and then to study Liberal Arts at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, NM. During the Covid-19 lockdowns, he re-discovered his love for his mother tongue, asking his mom to only speak to him in Hungarian. Phone calls to his grandmother in Hungary also became more frequent, thus his childhood Hungarian got dusted off. The next logical step was to find an opportunity to live in a Hungarian-speaking environment.
Marcus Kinney’s journey in Transylvania is made possible entirely by the generous donations of Hungarian Americans and our partners in Transylvania. This program is the only one of its kind giving North Americans an opportunity to volunteer, learn and connect in Transylvania.You can earmark support for the Scholarship HERE and help a young member of our diaspora community rediscover and reinforce their Hungarian roots, all the while giving back.