Global Literacy Project: Weaving our U*U Global Village Network
GLOBAL SISTERS STORY: Krisztina Páll
My name is Pall Krisztina. (family name first). I am from Romania, specifically from Transylvania. I was born in Székelyudvarhely (Odorheiu Secuiesc), a Szekler town. I am 28 years old. I used to be an elementary school teacher. Since 2004 I am a teacher of biology, Romanian language and headmaster at the High School of Korond (Corund). Here I established the basis of the Green Frog Biology and Ecology Circle. We have many activities (pupils from the 5-8 forms about 40 members): contests, publishing a newspaper, and a TV program at the local television station. In 2006 I was awarded the title “the best teacher of the year.”
At the same time I’m an active member of ECO-CLUB, a Non-Governmental Organization, Eco Club Independent in Székelyudvarhely (Odorheiu Secuiesc). I have organized many competitions, activities, and meetings having the theme of ecology and protection of the natural environment. I’ve translated to English different articles for the Pitypang Newspaper published by the Organization.
I think I am an active person, and very fast. I resolve the problems very quickly. People around me said me to stop a little bit, because I am too fast, and they cannot catch up with me, and they say, because of this I am untouchable. I think that people around me like me, because I have a lot of friends.
I have a boyfriend for 8 years. His parents are from Bencéd. Now we are living together in Bencéd, where I was chosen the president of Foundation from Bencéd. I try to bring a full life in this little village. I edit and print the newspaper of Bencéd and the newsaper for old people, I organized a lot of interesting things such as shows, performances of plays etc. I established the telecottage, a room near the church that provides internet access and computers for the people of Bencéd to use. I offered the people from Bencéd a free course in using the computers. I organize in every year here in Bencéd summer camp for children.
For me isn’t so easy, because I am working in Székelyudvarhely and Korond, which are about 20 kms far from Bencéd. Every day I make this way. Bencéd-Korond-Székelyudvarhely. (I am from Székelyudvarhely.)
So I am biology and Romanian language teacher; on the other hand I teach mathematics on particular way, and I write projects, grants for my school, where I am teaching. So in that way I am supported financially. What I do for Bencéd, for now I can say, MY community I do it for my pleasure!!! And I like it, seeing the smiles on faces of people, how can we develop our community. Now is easier than last year, because we became a Mother Congregation, with a new minister, Makkai Ilkei Ildikó, and we are working together. Our biggest problem was the road to the nearest town, Székelyudvarhely. It is very bad. But we hope that next year it will be resolved by the government. They have begun to repair it. I worked a lot for Bencéd, that everybody think that I am from Bencéd, and not from Székelyudvarhely. J I think that our community is a very strong community, with 180 peoples, most of them are over 50 years, but what they want they CAN do it! I hope that in the village will appear young families. You can see our community on our website: www.Bencéd.ro
Our life in Romania, is not so easy. Our salaries is not so much. A common man earns about 150 Euro per month. The life is very expensive, a 2 room apartment from a flat in the town costs 50,000 Euro to buy. And now imagine! How can gather a young family get 50,000 Euro, from 150 Euro salary? On the other hand we are minorities, our mother tongue is Hungarian. Being Hungarian in Romania is not easy. I felt it at the school faculty, too.
But I think not here are the biggest problems: we have water, food, places where we can work, where we can learn. In the world are worse places.
A good thing in my country is that women serve in directorates, in parliaments, etc.
I think that we can learn from the women’s experiences from all around the world. That’s why I would like to attend the International Convocation of U*U Women in Houston. I’d like to learn good examples and of course to exercise the language, to know people and to travel to USA, because that is one of my dreams. I hope that I will have the possibility to reach it.
So you know one of my dreams; another dream is to have a little boy with my boyfriend. The biggest obstacles to reach our dreams is the money. The trip to USA is very expensive. On the other hand to have my own family, with my boyfriend and our sons, we’d like to have our own home, not together with my parents or my boyfriend’s parents.
So my biggest goal in my life is a little boy!!!!:(
Yes I have access on internet every day, because we have it at home. That’s all that I wanted to share with you. I hope it won’t be boring…
Krisztina also included details about her work and education:
I am the editor of four newspapers:
- Green Frog, ecological school newspaper
- Bencédi Zarándok (Pilgrim from Bencéd), community newspaper of Bencéd
- special numbers for old people from Bencéd, Simogassuk meg az öreg fejeket (Let’s Caress the Old Heads), which appear with big letters (large type)
-Vestitorul Corundean, community newspaper of Korond.
From 2006 – I am the president of The Bencéd-Yttre Foundation.
From 2006 – I am Local Development Agent of the White Nyikó valley
From 2006 – I am active member of the Hungarian Teachers` Reunion in Romania
From 2007 – Head of methodology at High School of Korond
In 2007 – Member of The Youths Parliament, vice-president of Harghita Region
From 2007 – Community Facilitator of the German Peoples University Association and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation
From 2007 – Manager of projects at Korond High School. I’ve written and won some projects as the facilitator of Nyikó valley, as the president of Bencéd Yttre Foundation, and as manager of projects of my school.
I think that it is very important to learn during your life, to grow your skills, to have more and more experiences, skills, knowledge etc. That’s why I attended a lot of courses.
Now I share you my skills, courses I attended:
- Graduated from the Benedek Elek Normal School as a kindergarten–primary school teacher
- Environmental Education training at Nyiregyhaza, Hungary
- Ecology and education in schools and outside school course organised by Eco Club Odorhei and Eco Independent Club Budapest
- English Degree
- Computer usage course at the Tetra P&P Odorhei, diploma from the Romanian Labor Ministry.
- Student at the University Babes–Bolyai, my major is biology
- Pedagogy – Psychology Course at the same university
- University degree in biology and pedagogy
- Log-Frame project-writing course
- Teachers training course in Gypsy Problem organised by the Ministry of Education and Research in Korond High School
- Education for Health Teachers training course organised by the Ministry of Education and Research at Benedek Elek Normal School in Székelyudvarhely
- Problems of Schools in the Country course organised by the Ministry of Education and Research
- Perfection training course organised by the Harvest Hope Foundation in the theme of Lasting Developments in Illyefalva (Ilieni)
- Business Certificate and Pension Manager Certificate aproved by the Ministry of Education and Research and Ministry of Labor
- First Aid Course organised by the Emergency of Székelyudvarhely
- Local development Agent Course organised by the Civitas Foundation and Babes-Bolyai University
- Seminar, Firstly the Citizen, for Community Facilitators organized by German Peoples University Association and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation
- Knowledge Economy Project proiect-writing course organised by the Ministry of Education and Research
- The Project Phare Tvet RO, Teachers training course
- Courses related to professional orientation for practising students
- Seminar in preparing standards and its effects on students
- Romanian-Hungarian Conference Leader, Lasting Development
- Teachers training course, Gordon Methods
- Course of writing curriculum after decision of the schools, Phare Tvet RO
- Learning the methods of ornitology camp organised by the Ornitology Association of Romania
- Learning the methods of analysing blood and practice
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