A Total of 10 Million HUF Raised for Hungarian Charities in One Day
Edited by Anna Popper
Budapest welcomed the festive season on 16 November 2025, with a truly international flair: the 14th Diplomatic Charity Fair opened its doors and achieved outstanding results for noble causes. The event was organised by the Diplomatic Spouses of Budapest (DSB), under the leadership of Mrs. Vanida Bhaholpolbhayuhasena, President of the DSB and spouse of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to Hungary.
Under the high patronage of Dr. Zsuzsanna Nagy, spouse of the President of Hungary H.E. Tamás Sulyok, the fair reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to supporting the community and promoting social solidarity.
The fair, once again held at the Bálna National Defence Centre on the Pest bank of the Danube, welcomed a record number of over 2,000 visitors on Sunday, between 10:00 and 17:00.
Members of the Diplomatic Corps, families, local residents, representatives of the media and cultural sphere, and members of Budapest’s international community filled the halls throughout the day, creating the lively, cheerful atmosphere that has become the fair’s signature ahead of Christmas.
Under the motto “Discover the World’s Cultures and Shop Around the World in One Day”, the 2025 fair combined cultural discovery with tangible charitable results. It raised 10 million HUF (approximately €24,000), which was donated directly to three Hungarian charitable organisations, each receiving an equal share.
A One-Day Journey Around the World
The fair brought together embassies from 38 countries with over 60 exhibitors in total, creating a one-day global showcase in Budapest.
Visitors could explore the traditions and craftsmanship through carefully selected items at 29 beautifully decorated national stalls, reflecting each participating country’s heritage – from handmade crafts and artwork to jewellery, ornaments, cosmetics, textiles, clothing, and various souvenirs and gift items for every occasion.
The Food Corner, with 21 international food booths, was a major attraction throughout the day, offering an enticing range of international specialities – from gourmet foods and sweets to beverages, wine, and coffee – at affordable prices.
The mix of culinary discoveries and holiday shopping kept the venue buzzing from opening until closing.
Hungary was represented not only as the host country, but also through the active participation of Hungarian companies and organisations, whose support strengthened the shared philanthropic goal and contributed to the fair’s vibrant variety.
Beyond the shopping opportunities, a rich programme offered a full day of entertainment and family-friendly activities. Live cultural performances filled the stage with folk music, dance, and traditional expressions from different nations, giving guests a glimpse into the diversity of Budapest’s diplomatic community.
A dedicated Children’s Corner ensured that even the youngest visitors were well entertained, making the event enjoyable for families throughout the day.
Another highlight was the DSB Fair’s popular raffle draws, made possible by generous donors who contributed a wide variety of prizes. The raffle proceeds further boosted the overall fundraising total, maximising support for the selected charities – every ticket sold went to a good cause.
Charity as a Bridge Between Cultures
Now, in its 14th consecutive year, the Diplomatic Charity Fair continues to stand out as much more than just a fundraising event. It is a platform where cultures meet in a welcoming environment – strengthening personal connections and encouraging dialogue across borders. By bringing together people from diverse backgrounds for a common mission, the fair reinforces the values of cooperation, friendship, and mutual respect.
The Diplomatic Spouses of Budapest (DSB) – uniting the spouses of ambassadors and senior diplomatic representatives in Budapest – has steadily developed the fair into one of the city’s largest international public diplomacy and the most beloved family-oriented events during the holiday season.
The 14th Diplomatic Charity Fair commenced with an opening ceremony and welcoming remarks.
Welcome Message from Mrs. Vanida Bhaholpolbhayuhasena, President of the Diplomatic Spouses of Budapest and wife of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to Hungary:
“Good morning Mrs. Zsuzsanna Nagy, spouse of His Excellency President Tamás Sulyok, Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to welcome you all, on behalf of the Diplomatic Spouses of Budapest, to the 14th Diplomatic Charity Fair. May I express my deep gratitude to our patron, Mrs. Zsuzsanna Nagy, for her invaluable and consistent support, which has made today’s event possible.
I also wish to acknowledge the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio, H.E. Michael Wallace Banach, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, as well as all the Ambassadors, their spouses, and their teams who are here with us today to support our event.
The DSB Charity Fair has established a reputation in Budapest over the years, and today’s event marks its culmination. The embassies in Budapest bring a colourful mix of their art and craft, along with their traditional delicious dishes. It also offers an opportunity for Hungary’s international partners to showcase their culture through performances. This year, DSB has invited Hungarian partners to set up their stalls, further enriching the Fair.
All proceeds from the Fair will be distributed to three Hungarian charitable foundations. DSB also supports children with disabilities, children in troubled situations, and a foundation dedicated to preserving cultural and folk art.
In organising today’s Charity Fair, I wish to express our gratitude and appreciation to Mr. Szilveszter Tánczos from IBSSA (International Bodyguard and Security Services Association) and Mrs. Anna Popper, President of the Diplomatic Press Agency, for their commitment and time. Both have been supporting DSB in its activities for many years already.
Special thanks also go to the staff of the Bálna Defence Centre, led by its Director, Ms. Beáta Tölg-Molnár, for their warm hospitality in hosting the fair;
Event Stuff Kft., which provided the tables we are using today;
Ms. Anikó Szelle, our MC and interpreter;
Britannica International School of Budapest, Happy Kids, and Under the Rainbow Kindergarten, who prepared games and looked after our children;
Private sponsors and donors who generously donated prizes for our big and small raffle draws; and all the volunteers from universities and schools who are assisting us today.
I would also like to express my gratitude to all the diplomatic missions that joined us today and set up stalls. Thank you very much for supporting DSB. My special thanks to my dear board team and DSB friends for their dedication to the success of today’s charity event. Last but not least, thanks to my Ambassador of Thailand, the staff of the Thai Embassy, the Team Thailand, who always support me in whatever I do.
Dear Guests, take your time to “Discover the World’s Cultures and Shop Around the World in One Day”.Visit our national stalls and food stalls – more than 60 stalls await you – try the various cuisines from different parts of the world, and enjoy the cultural performances. I wish you all a wonderful time at this event! Thank you so much for your support, Köszönöm szépen!”
Opening Address by His Excellency Archbishop Michael W. Banach, Apostolic Nuncio to Hungary and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps:
“First Lady, Mrs. Zsuzsanna Nagy, Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Diplomatic Spouses, it is a great honour, joy, and privilege for me to be with you this morning at the 14th Diplomatic Charity Fair 2025, a wonderful tradition which offers an example of international cooperation thanks to the enthusiastic, generous support and participation of many diplomatic missions based in Budapest. Thank you, Mrs. Vanida Bhaholpolbhayuhasena, wife of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand and President of the Diplomatic Spouses of Budapest, for your kind invitation to offer these remarks.
We owe you, the diplomatic spouses of Budapest, a great deal of admiration and gratitude. For all the joys of seeing the world and living in another country for a few years and experiencing it with your loved one, being a diplomatic spouse can be a lonely, isolating experience – at least initially. As I look around, I see the faces of many who willingly packed up their families and moved to a new country. You have left behind extended family, friends, and comfortable lifestyles to support your spouses’ careers. You are faced with uncertainty as you are tasked with settling the family’s home life. You are asked to acclimate your family to life in an unfamiliar country, while executing daily needs in a language you do not speak well and trying to maintain some semblance of a career – if not sanity!
Keeping things rolling smoothly – school enrolment, paperwork, grocery shopping, learning cultural norms – is indeed a challenge. There is no checklist or AI guidelines for the diplomatic spouse; just the expectation that you will figure it out for the entire family. To all of this, add the fact that male diplomatic spouses are increasingly more common.
These obstacles present a significant challenge for you as spouses. However, they also offer extraordinary opportunities for all of us. Diplomatic spouses possess a distinctive skill set that includes multitasking, drive, openness, innovation, and agility. You demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility, meticulous attention to detail, and – perhaps most importantly – an innate talent for diplomacy. You navigate diverse perspectives and opinions with grace and understand the cultural nuances that shape effective communication and collaboration. Today’s event is proof of that!
In the name of your spouses, the Ambassadors, thank you for your contribution to all these efforts! Thank you for the love, fidelity and patience without which they – without which we – would be unable to carry out the mission entrusted to us by our respective countries!
All proceeds of the Diplomatic Charity Fair 2025 will be donated to three Hungarian charities. For Each Other Gemma Sports Association – Szeged, a foundation dedicated to improving the cultural life of intellectually disabled children and youth, and building bridges between healthy and disabled people with equal opportunities. Engagement with people with disabilities promotes a spirit of inclusion. Thank you for encouraging all of us to play our part in constructing a culture of encounter and solidarity where no one is isolated.
Your efforts will also help Saint Francis of Deva Foundation, which supports children in trouble and difficult situations by offering school education and day-care. How important it is to create a safe and loving environment for children with learning differences and challenges – not only for the children themselves, but also for their families and siblings. The Diplomatic Charity Fair 2025 will help create a safe and welcoming environment for children in difficult situations, thus enabling them to reach their full potential.
Finally, your donation will assist the Foundation for the Szolnok Crafts Circle and the Folk Art of the Tisza Region, a foundation for preserving regional cultural heritage, traditional craftsmanship, and folk art. Culture means identity. Culture also means that each individual contributes, through their special gifts to the well-being of others and the whole. What a tremendous wealth there is in seeing people from different cultures and experiencing their cultural traditions!
We are all part of the tapestry of a great culture. We should not be afraid to offer the gift of our cultures to others. Because when we share, we receive so much in return. And culture can also teach us peace – by renewing and restoring our belief that aggression and fear can diminish, leading to a more peaceful and content world – as this Diplomatic Charity Fair 2025 demonstrates.
Thank you for your contributions. This year’s beneficiaries will indeed receive much. It is with people like you, and endeavours like yours, that more and more people every year can be supported – knowing that you are allowing them to live a better and more human life. Thank you again for your generosity. Thank you for your kind attention.”
Welcome Speech by Dr. Zsuzsanna Nagy, Patron of the DSB Fair 2025, Spouse of the President of Hungary:
“Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, a very warm welcome to the organisers and guests of the 14th Diplomatic Charity Fair, and to all visitors attending this event to support a noble cause. This is an excellent opportunity to open our eyes to the world around us, to admire the unique features, handicraft traditions and customs of different nations, and to support the invaluable work of three charity organisations.
I would like to express my special thanks to the members of the Diplomatic Spouses of Budapest, whom I have had the chance to meet for the second time in a week. Today’s event, in addition to supporting a worthy cause, aims at strengthening relationships and getting to know each other better. But first and foremost, I am delighted that this occasion has brought so many of us together to show our solidarity with others and to help them.
Bridges can only be built through human relationships. In the history of diplomacy – for thousands of years – human relationships have always played a significant role in forging closer ties between different countries and cultures. This is how we learn to appreciate and respect each other’s motives, interests and goals, even if they differ from ours. We have to admit that understanding other peoples with different customs, languages and worldviews is not always easy. However, there are certain common human values and norms that are universally understood and therefore require no explanation. Charity and the willingness to help are inherent in this shared human “language”. Now I am asking you to speak this “common” language – for a noble purpose.
This charity fair is an excellent example of how the importance of goodwill, readiness to help and responsibility for others extends beyond countries, cultures and languages. This charity event undoubtedly demonstrates that acting jointly to help others is a shared value of mankind, and caring for others with love and compassion knows no boundaries.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, the challenges of the 21st century – such as social differences, devastating wars, environmental crises and the growing sense of insecurity – are a wake-up call to all of us that mankind is bound to share a common destiny. No single nation can ignore the suffering of another, and nobody can remain silent when seeing the plight of another human being. We can and must seize every opportunity to help others and support good initiatives.
I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who participated in organising this event, and to all those who contribute to this noble cause with donations, their work, or simply by visiting the charity fair. Thank you for sharing the traditions of your home countries with us, thus enabling the three organisations to continue their dedicated service to society.
I do hope that today’s charity event will attract many people, will be successful, and we can all return home with a good conscience and a sense of spiritual enrichment. Thank you for your attention.”
The Diplomatic Charity Fair: A Distinctive Holiday Highlight
The Diplomatic Charity Fair stood as a powerful expression of solidarity, bringing people together for a noble cause while fostering international relationships. By connecting communities and cultures, the event encouraged dialogue and strengthened diplomatic ties, paving the way for deeper cooperation and enduring friendships.
Visitors from all walks of life had the opportunity not only to discover and purchase products reflecting the cultural heritage of many countries, but also to meet diplomatic representatives in an informal and welcoming setting.
Ambassadors and embassy staff actively welcomed guests at their national stalls – posing for photos, engaging in friendly conversations, and sharing stories and insights about their homelands. This close, personal interaction with the diplomatic community is a key element that makes the fair such a distinctive and memorable highlight of Budapest’s holiday season.
The fair’s remarkable success is a testament to the DSB members’ tireless efforts and shared commitment to common values and noble causes. The 14th edition of the Diplomatic Charity Fair once again demonstrated that with goodwill, cooperation, and teamwork, it is possible to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Building on its strong fundraising results, the event showed how international cooperation can create real and lasting local impact through a shared charitable mission.
Thanks to its friendly, open, and inclusive atmosphere, the Diplomatic Charity Fair has become a distinctive tradition over the past 14 years.
As a complimentary contribution to the Diplomatic Charity Fair 2025, organised by the DSB, IBSSA Hungary Zrt. kindly offered security staff and systems, technical and audio-visual equipment, venue arrangements, and photo and video services, and the Diplomatic Press Agency provided media support and assistance in the entire organisational process of the event.
“Bring a Box of Joy” Christmas Charity Campaign in Budapest
As an additional charitable initiative, the Board Members of the Diplomatic Spouses of Budapest, together with the Under the Rainbow Kindergarten and Nursery (UTR), supported and promoted the “Bring a Box of Joy” Christmas Charity Campaign in Budapest.
Organised for the second year by Adománytaxi and the Bartók District (District XI), the campaign was dedicated to bring smiles to the faces of the less fortunate children. This year’s goal was to collect 1,000 gift boxes filled with Christmas presents and deliver them to children in 10 villages in Nógrád and Borsod counties, helping to make their holiday season a little brighter and happier. Even a small present can make a big difference in a child’s life.
In the spirit of solidarity and compassion, members of the Diplomatic Spouses of Budapest contributed generously and handed over the collected gifts on behalf of the DSB for delivery to the children by the organisers on 15 December.
Source: Diplomatic Spouses of Budapest
Photos from the Diplomatic Press Agency
