Order of Malta

Beregszász, 25th September. The local Auxiliary Service of the Order of Malta (BJMSz) inaugurated a new integrating playground in its "Csilla von Boeselager" social centre. The playground - called "integrating" because its equipment is designed to be used jointly by healthy and physically handicapped children - was created with help from the Association of Family Organisations of the Carpathian Basin (KCSSZ) and the Hungarian Ministry for Human Resources. The event was attended by Dr. Boglárka Illés, Assistant State Secretary for Youth of the Ministry, the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta, the Hungarian Association of the Knights of Malta, and representatives of Hungarian and Ukrainian chapters of KCSSZ.

The guests were welcomed by János Makuk, President of BJMSz. He expressed his delight at the successful creation of a playground where the equipment is appropriate for both healthy and disabled children, who can thus play together without problems or barriers. He thanked all those who helped this dream become a reality.

János Pataki, President of KCSSZ,  emphasised the role of BJMSz in bringing together not only healthy and disabled persons, especially children, helping them to live together in mutual understanding and tolerance - but in doing the same for persons of different ethnic groups: he remembered how, at the opening of the Csilla Von Boeselager Social Centre, the ribbon was held by young people dressed in Hungarian and Ukrainian national costumes. He reported that KCSSZ was contributing to the establishment of twenty community facilities, offices and playgrounds. The future of our nations, he reminded, lies in our families.

Dr. Boglárka Illés stated that supporting families in the Carpathian Basin is a major priority for the Hungarian government, and Hungarian-speakers of this region, especially children, are helped in a number of ways. She expressed the hope that the Ukrainian Government, too, would continue, as before, to support Hungarian-speakers in Transcarpathia.

Zoltán Babják, Mayor of Beregszász, congratulated everyone on their success so far. He was happy to see the people make such efforts to improve and beautify their surroundings, in spite of their difficult circumstances. "These are dificult times for us Hungarians of Transcarpathia, but we are heartened to know that the Hungarian government cares for us!"

As part of the celebrations, the "Pro Merito Melitensi" Cross of Merit of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta was awarded to Mr. János Makuk and Mr. András Schumicky, in recognition of their longstanding, tireless work on behalf of BJMSz. The awards were handed over by Andrej Khanasz, Secretary of the Embasssy of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the Ukrainian Government, and HE Imre Ugron, Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the Government of Hungary.

Fr. János Molnár, parish priest of Beregszász, blessed the new playground. Following this, the audience was shown a documentary film, produced by the Rome film team and illustrating the volunteer work of the Auxiliary Service of the Order of Malta in Beregszász.

The ceremony was enhanced by the performance of a series of songs collected by Irén Krajnik, sung by Anna Szabó, Barbara Bence and Balázs Szabó, as well as by dances performed by the Rezeda team. The event ended with a reception, during which the children took possession happily of their new playground.

The event is described (in Hungarian only) on the website of the Beregszász Auxiliary Service of the Order of Malta: www.malta.uz.ua