INTERCULTURAL MEETING IN KECSKEMÉT

History

In September 1990, the Future of Europe was established with the aim of helping the young people of Kecskemét (Hungary) become acquainted with young people from Europe through Young people’s Meetings. The theme was simple: inviting young people from the countries of the continent who would be hosted by Kecskemét schools. Foreign young people would stay with families and in the following year, the foreign groups would invite their hosts for an exchange visit.

So far, Kecskemét has hosted 8000 young people from 80 settlements from 27 countries. The task of the Future of Europe is exactly the same after the Millennium as it was at its birth: helping the citizens of Europe and of the world so that the young people of today become a tolerant generation, free from all prejudices and accepting people and their differences.

In advocacy of cultural diversity and in cooperation with Future of Europe AECS sends international delegations to participate in the meeting from 6th to 13th July.

Opening ceremony

Usually, Young people’s Meetings are officially started on a Sunday on the main square of Kecskemét. As a custom, several groups go on stage to present a brief selection of their performances. The Mayor of Kecskemét hands the town keys to the two youngest children at that year's Meeting, a boy and a girl, then dozens of balloons reach the sky with a fanfare that indicates the beginning of a week's wonders.

The importance of the Young people’s Meetings is well reflected by the fact that each year the President of the Republic in office comes to take part in the inauguration ceremony as the main patron of the Festival.

Children's magic

In the mornings and in the afternoons from Monday to Friday the visiting groups perform their programmes on the Main Square stage to the great enjoyment of the inhabitants of Kecskemét, the guest children and many tourists who often spend hours watching the shows. During the week, each group comes on stage 2-3 times.

The shows performed by the children's and young groups give an insight into the traditions of their country or smaller region by including their folk music and dances. All the colourful traditional costumes worn by the Polish, Portuguese, Turkish, and Korean or by the Hungarian children from Transylvania are special sights on their own.