3rd Guidance Festival
April 24, 2025 – Sports Day:
This year’s Guidance Festival truly reflects the philosophy of our Foundation: preserving tradition while embracing innovation. The now four-day-long festival kicked off with a day dedicated to sports events. The official opening of the festival took place at 2 PM, where – in line with tradition – the event was launched with a welcome speech by Dr. Miklós Radoszáv, our Chief Operating Officer. As part of Sports Day, Zánka hosted the competitions announced by the Children’s Parliament, including the Zánka Cup, as well as foosball, e-sports, and chess championships. Results are reported HERE.
One of the evening’s highlights was the final match of the football championship, broadcast live by István Hajdú B., a legendary sports commentator and recipient of the Prima Primissima Award.
After the match, we revived some nostalgia: the old green jerseys came out again as the Csányi Foundation Football Team faced a new challenger – this time, the surprising ALL STARS mentor team made up of Foundation staff took to the field.
Photos from the event are available in the gallery.
April 25, 2025 – Culture Day:
After yesterday’s sporty momentum, today the arts took center stage. The morning was filled with excited preparations and rehearsals for the Poetry Podium and the “Color Your World!” competition. Meanwhile, various exhibitions were being set up, creating a truly creative spectacle. In addition to photos, drawings, and paintings, there were also presentations from the LEGO robotics and Maker’s Red Box workshops, a local history exhibition, displays showing water testing results, and a unique felt art exhibit.
Following further rehearsals in the afternoon, the “Color Your World!” competition began in an atmosphere full of anticipation. Afterward, we viewed a documentary in the tent, created by the Media Section for the Foundation’s 20th anniversary. The film was touching, showing the achievements, shared experiences, successes, and joyful moments of the past two decades.
April 26, 2025 – May Day Festival:
The day was centered around preparing for the Talent Stage. In the morning, not only the performers and hosts were getting ready for the big event, but also the workshops presenting the projects of the community centers were in full swing. A highlight of the morning was the public dress rehearsal by the Drama Section, while the afternoon was made memorable by the several-hour-long May Day celebration, where children could choose from a wide variety of activities until evening.
During the evening program, the Ambassadors elected by the Children’s Parliament and the most successful students were honored. The Csányi Band and János Kardos-Horváth provided the evening’s entertainment – right up until the event’s close.
We report on the award winners HERE.
April 27, 2025 – Gala Day
From 10 AM, we welcomed our guests to showcase two decades of the Foundation’s work and the achievements of its supported youth. Workshops, labs, exhibitions, and the children working in them welcomed visitors. At 11 AM, the public premiere of the play Somewhere in Europe took place, followed by a chess simul at noon with Kata Karácsonyi (Group Jászság 2), where visitors and award-winning chess players from the Foundation could play against the FIDE Master. As the one-hour session concluded, the remaining unfinished matches were analyzed by chess grandmaster Judit Polgár. We extend our heartfelt thanks for her contribution!
From 12:30 PM, guests could listen to children who performed outstandingly at the Kaposvár Poetry Festival on the Poetry Podium. After lunch, the gala event began. Erika Csányi, Chair of the Board of Trustees, delivered the opening speech, followed by a welcome from Mihály Varga, President of the Hungarian National Bank. We were honored to welcome Anikó Lévai, founding member of the International Children’s Safety Service and goodwill ambassador of the Ecumenical Aid Organization.
As in previous years, the Ágoston Attila Award was presented. In the category of exemplary program participants, the award went to Szabolcs Márk Turuczki (Szeged Group 2) and Kitti Kispál (Jászság Group 3). In the category of outstanding program execution, it went to Péter Mikics (mentor, Szeged Group 2), Lajos Zeke (developmental specialist), and István Bugyi (volunteer from Jászság) – leaders of the Jász-Stones team – as well as László Kovács, a volunteer from Mohács, who is an integral part of the local community center. Congratulations to all of them!
Every stage of life inevitably comes to a close, and a new one begins. This year, the Foundation said farewell to 16 participants, who – like their predecessors – gave their goodbyes on stage to their younger peers. Representing them were Bianka Járay (Pécs Group 2) and Mihály Dániel Csontos (Nagybajom Group 3), who delivered farewell speeches.
Naturally, those stepping onto the Guidance Programme for the first time also had their moment to shine. For them, our board member Zorán Sztevanovity and the Csányi Band performed a “march,” representing the full journey of the Guidance Programme with the youngest from Mohács, Szeged, and Kaposvár.
To the oldest – we wish success and countless adventures; to the youngest – a big cheer as they begin the next chapter of their lives!
As the nearly two-hour event concluded, we followed tradition by taking a group photo with the Board of Trustees and our supported participants. Finally, our Founder, Dr. Sándor Csányi, gave a closing speech, bidding farewell to guests and encouraging the youth to embrace life’s challenges.
Thank you to all our Supporters, Board Members, Colleagues, Developmental Teachers, Volunteers, and Guests for helping our Supported Youth show the world what we can achieve together in twenty years!