Armenian children of Karabakh origin are once again spending their summer in Hungary with the support of the Hungary Helps Program, State Secretary for the Aid of Persecuted Christians Tristan Azbej announced Thursday on Facebook.
Speaking from the Erzsébet Camp in Zánka, Azbej said it was uplifting to meet, for the second year in a row, children who have endured significant hardships and were able to attend a one-week camp on the shores of Lake Balaton thanks to Hungarian assistance.
The program, launched last year on the initiative of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó, offers nearly 100 children and their escorts the chance to escape daily struggles and enjoy carefree days in Hungary. It specifically supports families relocated to Armenia due to the decades-long South Caucasus conflict, which has caused suffering on both sides.
Azbej shared that during his visit he heard moving stories of wounds, healing, and the hope for peace, noting that the recently initiated Azerbaijani–Armenian peace process gives reason to believe the region’s scars may slowly heal.
“We are proud that in Hungary these children can experience our friendship and the joy of a carefree holiday. We hope they return home with beautiful memories — and to a more peaceful future,” he wrote, expressing gratitude to all who made the program possible.