Széchenyi István University’s international students crocheted blankets as part of the Dorcas Charity Project. They donated these hand crocheted blankets to the residents of the Children's Protection Centre in Győr. The participants have also launched a cultural series for the older children living at the Centre, aimed to encouraging further education and introducing them to far away countries.

The charity project is named after Dorcas from the New Testament, who helped those in need by using her sewing skills to make clothes for them - inspiring these students to bring joy and positive change to the lives of others. “This biblical story gave us the idea to use crochet to convey the warmth of faith to the children at the Children’s Home. Although the international students had no experience of this activity at first, they were so enthusiastic about this noble cause that they took up the challenge. Since then, the project has gone viral: more and more people are joining the charity. Our main message is that it's better to give than to receive: not only are the children blessed by the gifts, but we are also blessed to put a smile on their faces.” – highlighted Sylvia Páliné Nyiri project leader and the institutional coordinator of the Széchenyi István University International Programmes and Alumni Centre Scholarship Programme for Christian Young People.

As part of the project, the international students and the English-speaking Christian community of Győr donated gifts at the Children’s Protection Centre to young children who have been removed from their families under a child protection order. What made the visit more special is that Marzia Zamani, social worker of the Centre, was as well an international scholarship holder, when she came to Hungary from Afghanistan.

Participants in the project gave hand-made crocheted blankets to the residents of the Children’s Home.

„The project broadened my perspective on the meaning and importance of having a loving family. The children I met were filled with love and want to live a happy life in spite of the difficult circumstances they faced. I think this initiative is incredibly important as it can be a way to show the children that they are not alone and that we are with them and supporting them, even if it's in a small way.” – said Marianne Goussous, a Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship student from Jordan at the Doctoral School of Regional and Economic Sciences at Széchenyi University.

Sylvia Páliné Nyiri project leader with some of the participants, including Dema Ahmad, Marianne Goussous and James Wangai, presenting the beautiful crocheted blankets (Photo: András Adorján)

 James Wangai, from Kenya, came to Széchenyi University as a Christian Scholarship student and is studying a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. - “In my life as I grew up I have always thought that I have been called or rather should I say, I always wanted to help little children in need. When I heard that we are crocheting blankets for children, who live in a Children’s Home, I took it as a challenge upon myself, as a test and a practice. Additionally, I was happy to learn a new skill, which I believe I may use in the future. Moreover, this project helped me meet and interact with new students and provided me with a platform to practice love by opening up my heart and spending little of my time to give a helping hand for those who need it.” – He said.

Some of the Dorcas Project participants have recently returned to the Children’s Home with the first part of a cultural series, called "Me and My Country". “We introduced different cultures to the older children, so they could see how we are all the same in our diversity. Another aim is to emphasize the importance of further education, because these students have one thing in common: they are all here in Győr because they want to receive quality education. The importance of learning is most credible when it comes from the younger generation. I believe that they can be an inspiration for the children who wants to study different languages and be in further education.” - emphasized Sylvia Páliné Nyiri, the key organiser of the series. Students from all over the world participated at the first session and introduced  themselves and their country: Diana Nuñez from Mexico, Maxim Krat from Ukraine, James Wangai from Kenya and Kaoutar Azzi from Morocco. The programme has been so popular that it will be continued in the near future to introduce more countries to the children.

Maxim Krat, Kaoutar Azzi, Diana Nuñez and James Wangai at the first of the "Me and my Country" series.

The Dorcas Project won’t stop after the first visit! With the participation of international students and the staff of the International Programmes and Alumni Centre, including Márta Mészáros, Head of the Centre, and Bianka Kalamár, Erasmus Coordinator, ten more crocheted blankets were made and will be handed over to the older children at the Children’s Home before Christmas.