Labyrinth Courtyard - Gombaszög Summer Camp 2025
Between July 15 and 20, we once again took part in the festival named Gombaszögi Nyári Tábor ("Gombaszög Summer Camp"), where the TANDEM team created a safe and inspiring space for visitors – the Labyrinth Courtyard. A joyful novelty this year was its expansion: for the first time, our programs ran simultaneously in three tents.
This was the little island where one could step out of the bustle of the festival and surrender to silence, slowing down and recharging. A community gathered here, connected by a shared interest in self-knowledge, personal growth, and mindful presence – all set against the colorful background of concerts, cultural shows, community games, and discussions of social topics.
The Labyrinth Courtyard, organized by the TANDEM non-profit organization, hosted a wide variety of programs throughout the week, all supporting inner exploration and self-discovery. The mission of our organization remained the same: to encourage people on the path toward becoming more conscious individuals through self-awareness and responsibility. We brought a rich selection of activities to the festival: workshops, inspiring talks, self-development tools, game-testing, storytelling, and of course, the unique experience of walking the labyrinth.
Every morning began with a devotional by the Fellowship of Young Reformed Christians (Firesz), offering spiritual reflection. During the day, visitors could relax in the tea house with special teas and refreshing lemonades, while in the labyrinth walks – guided by Péter Halász, Alma Halász, Kriszta Molnár, and Péter Urbán – they embarked on deep inner journeys.
On Tuesday, we built the labyrinth together – a tradition that frames the entire week. In the afternoon, under the guidance of Kriszta Molnár and Péter Halász, the organizing team and staff members walked the labyrinth together. It was a special experience, followed by meaningful conversations that helped us prepare more consciously for the week ahead and connect more deeply with one another. In the evening, the opening session of the VándorLáss series took place: Peti Halász and Zoltán “Kovi” Kovács, founder of VándorLáss non profit organization, guided us through a remarkable motorcycle journey – 2300 kilometers across Northern Thailand, a story interwoven with shamanism, adventure, and self-discovery – ending, quite literally, with a bang.
On Wednesday, as part of the Firesz program, Eszter Áfra gave an insightful lecture about the relationship between faith and professional sports. Dorian Vida shared a personal testimony about walking the Camino de Santiago, showing us how a long-anticipated journey can be full of unexpected turns. In the early afternoon, Zoltán “Kovi” Kovács spoke with Rózsa Katona and Domonkos Kovács about why practicing yoga as a pair can be such a unique and meaningful experience. During the mindfulness workshop, Anita Mellár Mezei helped participants find silence amidst inner noise. The evening brought us the inspiring stories of Attila “Etil” Budai, the world traveler, who showed us through his adventures that every outward journey is also a profound inner adventure. The day closed with an interactive lecture by Péter Urbán, exploring the theme of how (not) to communicate – a talk that was both humorous and deeply thought-provoking.
On Thursday, Anita Mellár Mezei and Péter Halász combined mindfulness with a labyrinth walk. Those who experienced it – or even just observed – could say it was a profound yet liberating encounter. In the afternoon, an introspective workshop took place led by Kriszta Molnár, titled Journey to Myself. As one participant put it: “It wasn’t just a conversation, but a true journey of self-discovery. Kriszta’s gentle guidance and supportive presence created a safe, non-judgmental space for us to go deeper within ourselves.” Firesz also brought important topics to the stage on this day: Péter Pandy spoke about faith and responsibility in the context of public life, while Jonatán Acsay explored the relationship between entrepreneurial ambition and Christian values. Later, László Kollár-Klemencz, musician and writer, visited us to talk about the bond between humans and animals, as well as his book "Anyám tenyere" (My Mother’s Palm). Meeting him in person was both heartwarming and inspiring. In the evening, as part of the VándorLáss series, Zoltán Lencsés and Kriszta Molnár shared their experiences of wandering through the Sahara and their Moroccan journeys, in a conversation guided by Kovi.
On Friday, after the morning devotion and the labyrinth walk, we turned our focus to inner resources. The workshop Family Patterns – Blessing or Curse?, led by Brigi Ujfalusiné Buzder, explored our generational heritage through family constellations. In the Firesz program, Veronika Horváth, a lawyer, spoke about our approach to work from a Christian perspective. In the afternoon, one of the highlights was the much-loved “Ask the Priest” discussion, where Father Patrik Balázs, Pastor Tibor Lóczy, and Pastor Árpád Molnár answered the audience’s questions – and those who asked were even rewarded with surprise refreshments. Throughout the day, we also addressed self-awareness and psychological topics: forest bathing with Anett Zlatarits Iván, art therapy workshop “My Self-Image in Pictures” with Zsuzsanna Borka Beňo, interactive lecture on altered states of consciousness by psychologist Róbert Mikus. Our visitors could experience the Board game on topic of sustainable menstruation, connected to one of our projects. In the evening, Kovi shared stories from his life-changing journey in Peru – about the Amazon, Inca heritage, and the Andes. Listeners felt as if they were traveling alongside him.
The true highlight of the day was the lecture by Father Feri Pál: “What Helps Us Through Life’s Impossible Situations?” We laughed, we cried, and we took home countless valuable lessons. As the festival’s magazine Vadalma wrote: “This year, Father Feri spoke especially about the healing power of art, community, and empathy. He emphasized that you don’t always have to say something clever when someone is suffering. Sometimes it is enough to simply say: ‘I’m here.’ A hug. A plate of cookies. A photo looked at together. A gesture that says: you are not alone. Sometimes that means more than any grand words or lessons.”
On Saturday, a group of enthusiastic and inspiring young people – Alma Halász, Gáspár Bondor, and Barnabás Kovács – shared what the world of Dungeons & Dragons means to them. It became clear that this game is not only entertainment but also a deep form of creative self-expression and a source of friendships. Zsuzsanna Varga and János Hushegyi led a workshop on intimacy and personal boundaries. We also heard a mission story from Attila Borsi, theologian and Reformed pastor. In the forest, Anett Zlatarits Iván guided participants through a tree-drawing analysis, helping them gain new perspectives in the closeness of nature. The theme of sustainable menstruation continued at our designated stand. Evelyn Asiama delivered a colorful, energetic, and highly engaging lecture about the many meanings of eating. Later, Kovi spoke about Zen, and the day concluded with Kinga Pattermann’s presentation, where we explored important areas of life while engaging our intuition.
On Sunday, we woke up to a calmer atmosphere. The festival area slowly quieted down. The tea house welcomed its last guests, and the official program of the festival ended with an ecumenical service. Finally, we dismantled the Labyrinth together and said goodbye to its lavender-scented paths. Gratitude filled our hearts: the shared conversations, the quiet or joyfully loud moments, the laughter, and the inspiring lectures all remain with us.
We thank everyone who joined us at the Labyrinth Courtyard! We are deeply grateful to our visitors, our speakers, and our fantastic support team – it was a true joy to work together! Every organizer and crew member contributed with maximum dedication and teamwork to make our programs successful. Thank you!
As we said farewell to each other and to the valley, we looked back one last time from the festival gate with grateful hearts, setting off for home with the hope that next year, in 2026, we will meet again at the Gombaszög Summer Camp in the Labyrinth Courtyard.
