The VIBE Festival’s community-building competition, the Epic Class Battle, has come to an end with the participation of 1,193 students. According to teachers involved, the initiative had a unanimously positive impact, “motivating the entire class.”
In 2025, the VIBE Festival launched its community-building competition for Hungarian-speaking high school students in Transylvania for the first time. The goal of the initiative was to strengthen Hungarian-language communities in the region and to support the process through which a class can grow into a real, cohesive community. The program closely aligns with VIBE’s core philosophy: the festival is more than a series of concerts and events—it is a major community gathering point where classmates, friends, and acquaintances experience the festival together.
With this spirit in mind, the competition encouraged students to take part in creative, cooperation-based activities. Along the way, not only did individual class communities grow stronger, but classes were also able to connect with each other—both online and within VIBE’s community spaces.
The first edition exceeded all expectations. Students from 46 classes, representing 26 schools across 5 counties, joined the program, with 1,193 students actively participating.
Among the registered classes, 16 were 9th grade, 17 were 10th grade, 7 were 11th grade, and 6 were 12th grade.
For a first-time initiative, this level of participation is outstanding and clearly demonstrates the demand for experience-based community-building programs of this kind.
The competition ran for eight weeks and was built around a wide range of creative tasks, often inspired by experiential learning approaches. Students, among others:
decorated their classrooms and school windows together for St. Martin’s Day, documenting both the creative process and the final result while exploring traditions;
presented their classes and shared the values that define their communities;
marked the Day of the Hungarian Language by sharing their favorite Hungarian song lyrics, strengthening their joint online presence;
recited poems by Endre Ady on video and wrote their own poems about their class communities for Sándor Petőfi’s birthday;
organized a healthy lifestyle week focused on sports, nutrition, and mental well-being;
created handmade Christmas decorations, often using recycled materials;
organized costume parties, Santa Claus programs, and other shared festive activities.
According to the organizers, the most beloved and emotionally impactful part of the competition was the implementation of charity and volunteering projects. Students joined these initiatives with remarkable enthusiasm, empathy, and a strong sense of responsibility. Importantly, these were not isolated actions, but well-planned community projects responding to real social needs, such as:
Programs supporting the elderly (10 occasions): visits to nursing homes, Advent performances, small gifts, and digital literacy activities.
Support for disadvantaged children (8 occasions): visits to children’s homes, joint baking and craft activities, donations of clothes and toys, and support for day-care centers.
Animal welfare initiatives (6 occasions): dog walking, shelter cleaning, fundraising through bottle recycling, donations, and spending time with animals.
Donation drives for people in need and the homeless (9 occasions): food collections, donation boxes for families in need, support for shelters, and participation in shoebox donation campaigns.
Community projects linked to PET bottle recycling (7 occasions): school- and city-level collections, with proceeds donated to foundations, nursing homes, animal shelters, and people in need.
Volunteering programs supporting children with special needs (4 occasions): carried out in collaboration with various foundations.
School and local community support activities (4 occasions): school clean-ups, helping maintenance staff, restoring community spaces, and organizing school-level initiatives.
Student feedback related to the charity projects clearly confirms the core goal of the initiative. Statements such as “We experienced that together we are capable of much more, and that community cooperation can lead to incredible results” or “Until you experience that kind of love and gratitude that gives you goosebumps, you haven’t truly lived” show that the organizers succeeded in delivering more than just tasks—they conveyed the essence of social responsibility and mutual care through real, meaningful experiences.
“I consider the competition highly beneficial for students. It develops problem-solving skills, digital competencies, communication, and cooperation—skills that are essential in the 21st century. Such a challenge shows students how to apply their knowledge in real-life situations.”
Piroska György, homeroom teacher, Puskás Tivadar Vocational High School, Sfântu Gheorghe
“Nowadays, apathy is a frequent challenge. That’s why I am grateful that the Epic Class Battle had a motivating effect on the entire class. It was especially fortunate that this coincided with the beginning of 9th grade, offering a great opportunity for bonding.”
Rozália Olvedi, homeroom teacher, Lucian Blaga Theoretical High School, Reghin
“I saw them working together during breaks and in the afternoons, which brought me joy as a homeroom teacher. It clearly helped develop teamwork skills, and for that I am especially thankful.”
Edit Selyem, homeroom teacher, Salamon Ernő High School, Gheorgheni
The winner of the competition was Class 10.A of Tamási Áron High School in Odorheiu Secuiesc. Every student in the class, along with their homeroom teacher, won free access and camping accommodation for this year’s edition of the VIBE Festival.
We warmly congratulate them, as well as all participating classes, who proved that cooperation, empathy, and the power of community truly matter.