Past Events 2008
U.S. Embassy Sponsored Summer Youth Camp, "Roma and Friends," Promotes Tolerance
On July 31, 2008, Ambassador April Foley paid a visit to the U.S. Embassy sponsored summer camp near the shore of Lake Balaton at Balatonlelle. The week long experience brings together 42 young people, ages 12-14, plus eight teachers from all across Hungary to participate in a wide array of activities - games, sports, drama, arts - designed to promote inter-ethnic understanding, empathy and tolerance. The common thread in the camp experience is the use of English as the mode of expression. The teachers also learn, as they receive instruction in developing tolerance and conflict resolution skills which they can immediately apply among the students.
The Ambassador was joined on her visit by the Hungarian Prime Minister's Roma Commissioner and Member of Parliament, László Teleki and Zoltán Balog, the Chairman of the Parliament's Human Rights Committee. Together they toured the camp facility, spoke with the camp participants and viewed a student baseball game and dance performance. In her remarks to the students, Ambassador Foley commended them for "taking a step toward a future where intellect will overcome intolerance and excellence will overcome extremism."
