In Hungary disabled people and minorities will receive even less support, aid and comprehension than before, because of the economic crisis. We believe, that integration and tolerance shall start from the basics, from childhood on and also by the means of culture.

In cooperation with the Foundation VeloAlapítvány and with the goal to give integration and tolerance a cultural forum, we organized after the successful start of the last year the 15^thAugust 2009 at Vácrátót, on the Ranch VeloTanya the second open-air event called: KÉZA KÉZBEN– HELPING HANDS & HISTORICAHUNGARIA.

The poster of the event is always the winning work of a painting competition between pupils of the local school. The winner - as well as the 2. and 3. place - got a certificate and a special prize.

Our most important goal is, that Vácrátótwill be now and in the future an event-location, where everybody has free entrance and where disabled persons and those originating from minorities can exhibit their works of high quality and take part in the shows, as well as everybody else, who supports the spirit of the event by taking part in it. 

We point out, that we don't charge exhibitors with place-fee or other payments and that all participants – even the professional – don't get any royalties or reimbursements, supporting also in this way the spirit of the event.

At13.00 am the event started with the official opening at the Ranch Velo Tanya. Wheelchair-dancers, sign-dancers, falconers, blind-guiding dogs, hussars, folk-dancers and artistic ensembles entertained the visitors, there were exhibitions of hand-craft and arts, information-tents run by several foundations and associations supporting disabled people, interactive plays, horse-riding, etc.

Everybody has been invited to try out his knowledge participating in a quiz, whose winner – as well as the 2. and 3. -  got a special prize.

We staged this year a musical-medley of about 1 hour, presented by well-known and popular stars of the Hungarian musical- and theater-scene. 

The location is disabled-friendly, on demand we offer a free microbus service from/to the railway/bus-stop to/from the location.

It was a great pleasure to us, to be able to offer to all participants, exhibitors and staff a memory-DVD and a memory-card with the motto of the year’s event as a gift, as we have done in 2008.

We also offered our participants, exhibitors and staff free dinner on Saturday.

Brigitte Welcker