The Futeurope studycircle group in Debrecen, Hungary, prepared a succesful 4-day meeting in their city. Visiting participants came from Finland, England, The Netherlands. Including the Hungarian studycircle members, about twenty persons took part. Although invited, no reaction was received from the ‘associated’ studycircle in Oradea, Romania.
Starting on October 7 with a dinner prepared by the Hungarian group, the programme in Debrecen included visits to the House of Equal Opportunities (Esélyek Húza), the Péter Méliusz Juhász Reformed Rest Home, the University and the thermal bath of Debrecen. There was also room in the programme for an interesting discussion on the ‘values and norms’ in our nowadays society, an debate initiated by the Hungarian studycircle group and thoroughly commented on by the Dutch and the other groups. The theme may also become the main topic for the final Futeurope-project conference, which is scheduled for the end of May next year. In between a visit will be paid to the English Futeurope group in the Amber Valley district in Derbyshire, England (UK) in the next spring (March 24-27).
The Debrecen programme ended October 10 when the visiting groups returned to Budapest and the airport by minibus. On their way to- (the Fins) and their way home (the Dutch) from Debrecen both the Finnish and the Dutch group spent some days in the Hungarian capital.
October 7-10 : Visit to Debrecen, Hungary
Tuesday 07.9
14.00 NL and UK delegates arrive at Ferihegy Airport Budapest
Transport (230 km) by minibus to Debrecen, Guesthouse Szív
14.00 Finnish people come to Debrecen by transfer
19.00 Dinner at Guesthouse Szív
Welcome and opening the meeting
Getting to know each other
Hungarian seniors make dinner for the guests.
Wednesday 08.9
Meeting in Home of Equal Opportunity
Presentation on the theme of ” Month of the old people”
Get to know more about the programs.
Take in the situation of elderly people in Hungary.
12.00 Lunch in the Gödör Restaurant
13.00 Go for a walk in the city centre
15.00 Meeting in the office of the ÉLETFA Association
1. Update report per group
• themes discussed
• outside support
• organisation & management (chair, reporting, etc.)
2. Website & forum
3. Next meeting in England (March)
4. Any other matter
19.00 Dinner at Babalu Restaurant
Coordinators’ meeting in the office of the Életfa Association
10.00 Meeting in the Péter Méliusz Juhász Reformed Rest Home
-Presentation of the institution’s operation
- Facilities and services of the institution
- Performance of the seniors and nurses
Lunch at the old people’s home
Walking to the University of Debrecen, than to the “Big
Forest” than go to the thermal bath of Debrecen
Short presentation of thermal bath services for old people
Free time (programs depending on the choice of the guests)
- staying at the thermal bath for swimming, sauna
- visiting the Museum Déri (exhibition of Mihály Munkácsy)
- Visiting the Modem (exhibition of socialist realism)
- sightseeing: churches, Debrecen Reformed Dormitory
- go shopping.
19.30 Dinner at the Régi Vigadó/Krúdy Restaurant
Friday 10.9.
9.00 UK group transport to Ferihegy airport by flight taxi
NL group transport to Hotel Ibis Budapest by flight taxi
For Finnish guests free time:
go shopping, sightseeing, visiting museums
(programs depending on the choice of the Finnish guests)
13.00 Lunch in Flaska Restaurant
14.30 Finnish group leave to the airport
Update from Amber Valley 50+ forums
Alfreton and Ripley District 50+ Forum – No meetings since June 2008.Trev Steed and Jan Columbo attending Futeurope exchange visit to Hungary October 2008.
Heanor 50+ Forum – Representatives from Heanor 50+ forum attending the Derbyshire Older person’s Group with a display and information on the Futeurope programme
Belper 50+ ForumAnnual General meeting held 19th September 2008. Guest speaker talked about ‘Law and corporal punishment’
Discussions - The report from the visit to Finland has been circulated to all groups for discussion. Feedback has been received and posted on the forum from two members of the forums
Recent Publicity - Two newspapers printed news article on the Futeurope programme in September
UK Visit 2009 - Planned for 24th – 27th March Itinerary to be planned November 2008
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