Csilla von Boeselager
Our founder
Born in Budapest, fled to Venezuela, Csilla von Fényes and Dr. Wolfhard von Boeselager founded a family with two daughters and a foster son in Germany in 1973.
When the stream of GDR refugees flooded Budapest in the summer of 1989, Csilla spontaneously took the initiative: under her leadership and in cooperation with Msgr. Imre Kozma, German and Hungarian Malteser International set up tent camps for over 30,000 refugees.
The Angel of Budapest
At the German embassy in Budapest in 1989, Csilla von Boeselager became the interface between the international media, the GDR refugees, the German embassy, and Hungarian politics.
In addition, Csilla informed and reassured the world press on a daily basis, conducted talks behind the diplomatic scenes and thus made a significant contribution to the peaceful opening of the "Iron Curtain".
Awards and honours
Csilla became known throughout Europe. She was honoured with awards by several countries, NGOs, churches and the EU. For example, she was the first recipient of the German "Women for
Europe" award and received the European Prize for Human Rights, the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the "St Liborius Medal for Unity and Peace in Europe", the Cross of Merit of the Republic of Hungary and many more.
The foundation was established immediately after the German Reunification. Building on her prior successes, Csilla had already raised sufficient capital in 1991 to found the "Boeselager Stiftung Osteuropahilfe" (Boeselager Foundation Aid for Eastern Europe).
Cross of Merit on Ribbon, FRG 1998
Special stage of the Pan-European Prize for services to Europe, 1993
Centre Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, 1991
First prize "Women for Europe", 1991
Liborius Medal for Unity and Peace
Malteser Medal of Honour
"With extraordinary energy, she laid the foundations for an exemplary support network for the needy and destitute. To this day, this organisation is unique in its humanitarian commitment in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe"
Federal Chancellor Dr. Helmut Kohl, 1994
"When the decades-long experience of the Cold War still left most of us in a state of freeze, Csilla von Boeselager has already been acting as a living bridge between East and West"
Federal President Dr. Richard von Weizsäcker, 1994
"Csilla von Boeselager's tireless dedication, her calmness and her radiance will forever remain in the memories of the many people who witnessed her in Budapest in the summer of 1989. ... She saw that everything was lacking; she organised tents, sleeping bags, blankets and clothing, food and medicine. .... We Germans have a lot to thank her for. She helped many of us, she set an example for all of us."
Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher, 1994
