When you think of doing philanthropy what comes to mind? Do you want to make a donation online, to instantly feel good about yourself, or do you prefer a more ‘hands on’ approach to actively helping those in need?
At the Alumni Relations and Career Services office we opted for the latter and launched a project allowing students to give back and experience the spirit of philanthropy and its long-lasting impact on their lives.
Prompted by Batlang Seabo (POLS ’13), an Alumni Scholarship Recipient, in September we began action in support of the Wesley Janos Kindergarten. Located in Budapest’s 8th District, the church-run kindergarten serves homeless and other severely underprivileged children.
We felt that supporting the kindergarten was the perfect cause to get involved with, and one in which we would be able to see the direct impact of our efforts.
Helping children in need
The kindergarten serves 40 desperately poor children in the one of city’s more dubious neighborhoods. Consequently, the project’s initial planning meeting was packed with students, alumni and staff eager to help improve the children's lives.
The project quickly took off. Alumni Scholarship Recipients raised funds through a benefit dorm party in November and by collecting donations during the annual CEU Christmas Fair for Christmas cards, drawn by the children, raising more than 55,000 HUF for shoes and other necessities for the kindergarten.
The Human Rights Initiative also got involved, donating all it had collected during its annual food drive—more than 100 items—to the kindergarten. Its “Shoebox Full of Love” campaign also collected a number of toys and clothes for the Wesley Janos children.
The Wesley Janos Kindergarten is a vibrant, hectic place where 40 wonderful children are getting a chance at life. We are proud to support the kindergarten and its young residents.
In their own words
Click here to read the testimonies of those who participated in helping Wesley Janos Kindergarten.