Daffodil Program

1. International Background

 

The Fields of Hope Program was launched by the Marie Curie Cancer Centre in England. The program was later adopted by many other countries. The Hungarian Hospice Foundation joined this international project in the autumn of 2007.

 

2. Aim of the Program

 

The events symbolized by daffodils serve the purpose of raising awareness to necessity of taking social responsibility. A further important message is that human dignity may be preserved until the very last moments of life.   

 

3. Symbol of the Program

 

Daffodils have been a symbol for cancer and organizations of cancer care all over the world for a long time. In the world of charity, it has been a symbol of life, hope, love, attachment and, conquering death. It has religious overtones, too, being the symbol of resurrection.

 

4. Schools Participating in the Program

 

Schools have joined the Daffodil Program, too. We believe that it is essential to raise awareness of illness and loss at a young age in order to make it more natural and accepted. All this makes children much more open to offering support and care to others. It is important to address issues of life and loss, however, we have to find the right ways to approach it. Based on the experience gathered in the first three years with the schools involved, we had managed to elaborate a program for the education of schoolteachers that has since been accredited. This endeavour offers an example of how the philosophy of hospice may become part of education, suited to the special characteristics of children. We would like children to understand and practise love to each other and those with an illness or disability and consider it an integral part of their lives.    

Our essential goal is have the philosophy of the program integrated in Hungarian educational culture.

 

5. Events of the Program

 

There are two central events related to the daffodil in yellow bloom.

In the autumn, we plant bulbs at a central square of the organizing town, shaping the word Hospice in the flower bed. Similarly, the schools involved in our project, plant bulbs in their gardens where pupils have to take care of them until they bloom. We attempt to offer children a clear, tangible parallel between the growth of a flower and the course of human life. Seeing this process through offers us a great opportunity to convey important values and thoughts.   

In the spring, when the flowers are in bloom, we organize various cultural events as well as the Daffodil Foot Race to express our sympathy with those we have to take leave of in dignity.

Local hospice organizations as well as NGOs and local governments and gardening companies contribute greatly to the organization of these events.

 

6. Patrons of the Program

 

Patron of the Fields of Hope program:

Mrs Erzsébet Sólyom, First Lady of Hungary

 

Patrons:

Joanna Stempinska, former ambassador of the Republic of Poland

Bente Angell –Hansen, former ambassador of the Republic of Norway