Current Programme:
The Endres Memorial Trust
is a registered charity (No 1046466). Its statutes specify that it should
devote its resources to "educating persons of Hungarian descent in the
English Language, society and culture with grants, scholarships and educational
material".
The trust concentrated its
efforts in the past 13 years on programmes to bring qualified teachers of English from
Hungary
and Hungarian minorities in the
neighbouring countries to
Britain
. They stayed with English families
and were offered up to a month’s post-graduate language course at the Redcliff
English Study Centre in Teignmouth,
Devon
, under the direction of Brian
Davidson, M.A. (Oxon) Dip.Ed. They ended their visit with a few days in
London
, during which they heard a talk on
English teaching methods in
Britain
, met a broader range of English
people and explored the capital. They were are also provided
with teaching aids for use in their schools.
The Foundation has so far
arranged over thirteen such courses attended by almost 220 Endres scholars in
total. They remain in contact with one another, providing mutual encouragement
to maintain the knowledge and skills that they have acquired in
Devon
. Through them the trust gained wider reputation
for furthering English culture in Hungarian schools and advance Anglo-Hungarian
relations.
There have also been a
number of short courses in
Hungary
and neighbouring countries led by
Mr Davidson and arranged by the Trust. These provided quick refresher courses
for those who have enjoyed the
Devon
experience, and for other teachers of English. They
also served to maintain the sense of identity to the Endres scholars.
.
We also tried to develop a
programme for the education of talented secondary school pupils from Hungarian
communities outside the country. Two such pupils are currently studying at the
Protestant college in Sárospatak in North -
Eastern Hungary
and the trustees hope gradually to
extend this to other denominations, so providing four years of secondary
education, subject to good school reports.
In addition, work
continues in the following areas:
- Rebuilding of schools in the Transcarpathia region
of Ukraine. We have recently been asked for assistance in this area and
the rebuilding of the first school was completed in January 2002. In 2003
central heating was installed in another school and a similar project was
completed in 2004. and we hope the last project will be completed
in 2010.
- Additional advanced and specialist English
language courses in
Hungary
and adjoining countries.
- Provision of good quality books for schools
(offers are welcome).