József Dimeny, our Partner Church’s minister, and Bela Domokos, their lay president, recently sent Follen’s Partner Church Committee the list of students eligible for scholarships. The leadership in Alsofelsoszentmihály determines which students are eligible for what level of scholarship. The students who are sponsored agree to do some service for their congregation, and to communicate their thanks to their Follen donors in a letter. (See an example below.)
This year there are three types of scholarships needed. The first level, $400, supports students attending the Unitarian Hungarian High School in Kolosvár. The second level, $300, assists students in high school or college who are attending a Hungarian language institution. The third level, $300, aids middle school children who travel to a neighboring town in order to attend a Hungarian school. [The students are ethnic Hungarians in Transylvania, Romania (part of Hungary until after WWII), and it is very important to these families that they keep their Hungarian connections. The local schools are Romanian.]
At this point we are asking you to consider aiding the children of our Partner Church. You can do this by donating either a full or partial scholarship. If you are willing, please send your donation to Church Administrator Sarah Garner with the amount you can contribute, and we will match you up with your student and, if needed, your co-sponsor(s). Please make your check out to Follen Church and write “PC Scholarship” on the memo line. If you have questions, contact Partner Church Chair Sarah Richards.
Your aid to these students and their families is greatly appreciated, and the Partner Church Committee of Follen Church thanks you for your generosity!
A letter from a scholarship recipient in Transylvania:
We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude for your help in financing our son Vass Norbert Levente’s studies through the Unitarian Church. This assistance is for us a warm and bright ray of light representing good and caring people who are attentive to the plight of others. Being that our needs are many, this aid helps us greatly. May you be blessed for your careful consideration and decision to understand us in our endless struggle to manage the household and provide for the needs of our family.
With thanks and blessings,
Vass family