You too can be a Godfather/Godmother!

In the Csángó villages of Moldavia it is unconceivable to this day, that two people could walk past each other without saying a word. When they meet, they will most certainly exchange a few words, or more, inquiring about where the other is going to or coming from, and for what purpose? The most polite way to address someone is to call him/her “godmother” or “godfather” regardless of whether you are related to his/her family in any way, or have never met before.

The mutual sentiment of being taken care of and of belonging together still exists in these communities. Let us also take care of this abandoned ethnic group so that they do not feel alone but know that we belong together! Let’s give Csángó children the opportunity to learn Hungarian so they can become familiar with the values of the Hungarian nation throughout the Carpathian Basin!

For this purpose, the only thing that you need to do is to undertake to be the symbolic godfather/godmother of a Csángó Hungarian child in Moldavia. You too can be a godfather/godmother! Be part of our family, our Csángó Hungarian community in Moldavia!

In Moldavia, there has been practically no Hungarian language tuition (Hungarian tuition started in the 1950’s was swept away by historical events in a few years …). It was only in 2000 that we managed to start an education programme in the Hungarian mother tongue. This programme has been operating ever since, and within this framework children are now able to learn the language of their ancestors in 21 settlements.

Once you have undertaken to be a godfather/godmother and pay HUF 40,000 per annum, you will enable a child of primary school age to learn in his/her mother tongue. This amount will cover the wages of teachers and the maintenance of the place of tuition (teaching aids, school equipments, firewood etc.).

There is no state budgeted Hungarian language education in Moldavia, and the Association of Csángó Magyars in Moldavia is able to organise Hungarian tuition for children up to the age of 14 in their native villages within the framework of extra-curricular classes and also in state schools 3 hours a week.

Fortunately, many Csángó students further their education in a Hungarian language secondary school from year to year in Csíkszereda (Miercurea-Ciuc). If you wish to support one of them, the annual amount of assistance would be HUF 150,000 (three meals per day, dormitory costs, educators and teachers wages, who help students to catch up).

However, the relationship between a child and a godfather/godmother has a significance far beyond these amounts. The personal contact (correspondence) with your godchild gives you an insight into the life of the Csángós. You can make friends and trace the development of your ‘adopted’ godchild. Several godfathers/godmothers have already visited their protégés in Moldavia. They all returned home enriched by unforgettable experiences and have promised to come back! Why don’t you give it a try? It is a wonderful experience to give and bring a child happiness!

You too can be a godfather/godmother! Apply to be a godparent at keresztapa@csango.ro!

Yours faithfully,

Adrián Solomon,
Chairman of the Association of Csango-Hungarians in Moldavia

Contact person in Romania:
Mr Endre Farkas-Ferencz, the coordinator of the programme titled "You too can be a godfather/godmother!" phone: +40-727-341-737 or www.csango.ro, keresztapa@csango.ro

Contact person in Hungary:
Ms Nóra Wagner, the secretary of the Godparents Association
Phone: +36-20-5647055 or www.keresztszulok.hu

Translated by: Csilla Takács / Proofread by: Leonóra Bárány

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