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Debrecen Foundation for International Education

The Foundation is an open organisation, open to all Hungarian and foreign natural and legal persons and other organisations without legal recognition, who agree with the objectives of the Foundation, accept the provisions of the Foundation’s Statutes, contributes to the realisation of the foundation objectives by financial means and notify the Board of Trustees of the Foundation in writing about their intention to join:

Address: 1 Heltai Gáspár street, Debrecen, 4002.

Contributions to the Foundation may be made in cash, securities, movable property, real estate, rights in rem.

Debrecen Foundation for International Education

The Foundation is an open organisation, open to all Hungarian and foreign natural and legal persons and other organisations without legal recognition, who agree with the objectives of the Foundation, accept the provisions of the Foundation’s Statutes, contributes to the realisation of the foundation objectives by financial means and notify the Board of Trustees of the Foundation in writing about their intention to join.
Contributions to the Foundation may be made in cash, securities, movable property, real estate, rights in rem.

The Foundation aims to contribute through its activities to:

  • the development of ISD; to the performance and development of the outstanding education system represented by ISD, and to the development and strengthening of the integrating role of ISD;
  • the development of international education in Eastern Hungary, based on the conscious joined development of academic and social skills, which equips future generations with internationally competitive knowledge and skills;
  • further strengthening Debrecen as an educational centre and its role as a regional centre;
In order to achieve the above goals, the Foundation carries out the following public benefit activities:

  • activities to improve the educational system of ISD;
  • organising and financing excursions, leisure activities and cultural programmes to support the educational system of ISD;
  • development of environmental awareness – sustainability;
  • promoting the history and traditions of Hungarian language and culture, and introducing the city of Debrecen and its surroundings to international and local students, and financing related programmes, events and activities (preservation of cultural heritage);

Anyone can benefit from the public services of the Foundation in accordance with its aims

Other activities of the Foundation:

  • Financing study trips abroad for students of ISD;
  • to appreciate students who have achieved outstanding academic results or community services;
  • funding ISD scholarship programmes;
  • funding ISD benefits system;
  • reducing financial difficulties of students’ families with temporary payment difficulties;
  • funding ISD teachers’ and other staff’ trainings to gain professional excellence;
  • to finance the purchase, construction or renovation of the institution or teaching materials, games, library books, textbooks, IT tools, educational and other software, investments and other equipment necessary for the implementation of the pedagogical programme and to support its further development;

WHY give 1% of your tax to the ISD Foundation?

  • Campus Facilities & Sustainability
    We help to maintain excellent campus facilities and a sustainable model for an optimal learning environment.
  • Learning Transformation & Collaboration
    We encourage to transform learning opportunities and to foster local and global collaboration for students’ educational journey.
  • Innovative Teaching Preparation
    We support the implementation of innovative teaching methods and resources to prepare students for a rapidly changing world.
  • Sustainability & Integration
    Together we can contribute to the promotion of sustainability, integration and educational activities for students.

We empower global minds and shape bright futures. The donations to the Foudation of ISD reflects our mission and values. All donations are invested in the decision makers of tomorrow.

If you would like to support the Debrecen Foundation for International Education, please click below.

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Every great idea begins with a spark.

TEDxISD Youth 2026 brings together students, educators, alumni, and members of our community to share ideas that inspire action, challenge assumptions, and create meaningful change. Centered around this year’s theme, IGNITE, the event celebrates the moments that spark curiosity, creativity, compassion, and the courage to make a difference.

Inspired by the International School of Debrecen’s Graduate Profile and the four C’s — Curious, Creative, Caring, and Changemaker — our speakers will explore the experiences, questions, and ideas that shape who we are and who we can become. From personal journeys and scientific discoveries to leadership, art, wellbeing, and social impact, every talk demonstrates how even the smallest spark can grow into something that transforms individuals, communities, and the world around us.

TEDx ISD Youth

TEDx ISD Youth 2026

Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Location:International School of Debrecen, Hungary

Event Type:

Audience: ISD students, families, educators, alumni, and members of the local community.

Ivánka Tóth-Rozi

As a 2026–2027 DP1 student at ISD, Rozi is passionate about learning, leadership, and creating meaningful change. She is actively involved in Student Council, Service Learning and Sustainability, Changemakers, and Media Club, where she brings ideas to life.

Her commitment to advocacy is reflected in initiatives such as fundraising for period-positive boxes in school bathrooms. She has also attended three Changemaker conferences and led workshops at two of them. Rozi embodies ISD’s four C’s: Creative, Caring, Curious, and Changemaker. Outside of school, she enjoys tennis, acting, and the arts. She believes meaningful conversations often begin with how we interpret the world around us.

In her TEDx talk, Rozi explores one of society’s most debated questions: What makes something art? Through thought-provoking examples of modern artworks often dismissed as “too simple,” she challenges conventional ideas of artistic value. Inspired by a book that reshaped her perspective, she invites the audience to look beyond first impressions and discover how art can spark dialogue, build community, and inspire new ways of thinking.

Finn Altizer

Finn Altizer is a Grade 10 student whose international upbringing has shaped his global perspective. Although American, he was born in South Korea and has spent the past 15 years living in countries around the world. During his four years at ISD, he has been actively involved in Student Council, Band, Frisbee, and Changemakers, serving as both Middle School President and High School Vice President.

As a member of the ISD Band, Finn has performed at events, including the Made in Debrecen Festival and the 2024 IB Global Conference. He has also won multiple championships with the ISD Frisbee team and the Hungarian U17 National Team. Through three Changemakers conferences, he discovered how small, intentional actions can create a meaningful impact.

In his TEDx talk, Finn explores how real change does not always begin with grand gestures. Instead, he shows how ordinary people can become changemakers simply by taking action and standing up for what they believe is right.

Flóra Bakonszegi

Music has been one of the biggest parts of Flóra’s life for as long as she can remember, and singing has become one of the most important ways she expresses herself. She has performed at both small and large events, including performances in other countries, and hopes to continue pursuing music in the future.

In her TEDx talk, The Art of Wrong Notes, Flóra explores an unexpected lesson she learned through jazz. In a world that often teaches us to avoid mistakes at all costs, jazz offers a different perspective: sometimes the most interesting moments happen when things don’t go according to plan. Drawing inspiration from improvisation, performance, and personal experience, she asks whether mistakes are really failures—or whether they might be the starting point for creativity, growth, and something entirely new.

Grade 11 student

Ivánka-Tóth Rozi

As a 2026–2027 DP1 student at ISD, Rozi is passionate about learning, leadership, and creating meaningful change. She is actively involved in Student Council, Service Learning and Sustainability, Changemakers, and Media Club, where she brings ideas to life.

Her commitment to advocacy is reflected in initiatives such as fundraising for period-positive boxes in school bathrooms. She has also attended three Changemaker conferences and led workshops at two of them. Rozi embodies ISD’s four C’s: Creative, Caring, Curious, and Changemaker. Outside of school, she enjoys tennis, acting, and the arts. She believes meaningful conversations often begin with how we interpret the world around us.

In her TEDx talk, Rozi explores one of society’s most debated questions: What makes something art? Through thought-provoking examples of modern artworks often dismissed as “too simple,” she challenges conventional ideas of artistic value. Inspired by a book that reshaped her perspective, she invites the audience to look beyond first impressions and discover how art can spark dialogue, build community, and inspire new ways of thinking.

Grade 10 student

Finn Altizer

Finn Altizer is a Grade 10 student whose international upbringing has shaped his global perspective. Although American, he was born in South Korea and has spent the past 15 years living in countries around the world. During his four years at ISD, he has been actively involved in Student Council, Band, Frisbee, and Changemakers, serving as both Middle School President and High School Vice President.

As a member of the ISD Band, Finn has performed at events, including the Made in Debrecen Festival and the 2024 IB Global Conference. He has also won multiple championships with the ISD Frisbee team and the Hungarian U17 National Team. Through three Changemakers conferences, he discovered how small, intentional actions can create a meaningful impact.

In his TEDx talk, Finn explores how real change does not always begin with grand gestures. Instead, he shows how ordinary people can become changemakers simply by taking action and standing up for what they believe is right.

Grade 9 student

Flóra Bakonszegi

Music has been one of the biggest parts of Flóra’s life for as long as she can remember, and singing has become one of the most important ways she expresses herself. She has performed at both small and large events, including performances in other countries, and hopes to continue pursuing music in the future.

In her TEDx talk, The Art of Wrong Notes, Flóra explores an unexpected lesson she learned through jazz. In a world that often teaches us to avoid mistakes at all costs, jazz offers a different perspective: sometimes the most interesting moments happen when things don’t go according to plan. Drawing inspiration from improvisation, performance, and personal experience, she asks whether mistakes are really failures—or whether they might be the starting point for creativity, growth, and something entirely new.

Grade 11 student

Bartos Daniella

Daniella is a Ukrainian-Hungarian DP1 student who enjoys reading, listening to music, learning languages, spending time with friends and family, and contributing to her school community.

Growing up in a multilingual and multicultural environment, Daniella developed a passion for exploring different cultures and understanding the world through diverse perspectives. Inspired by her family's experiences living through the Soviet Union and adapting to life across different countries, she became interested in how changing societies shape people's views on work and purpose.

In her TEDx talk, Daniella explores how advancing technology is transforming work ethic and career perspectives across generations. By comparing past and present attitudes, she invites the audience to reflect on how each generation has adapted to change and why every generation continues to play an important role in shaping the future.

EU Youth Delegate, co-organizer of the first TEDxISD Youth event

Kiss István

Isti is a member of the first graduating cohort of the International School of Debrecen and is currently studying Economics and Business Economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam, majoring in Policy Economics. He is a board member of a youth European affairs organization in Rotterdam, one of Hungary’s EU Youth Delegates for the next cycle, and one of the co-organizers behind the very first TEDxISD Youth event. Outside of academics, he enjoys sports, coffee, and finding ways to connect people across borders.

In his TEDx talk, Isti explores what happens when students who built their identity around academic and personal achievement suddenly find themselves surrounded by equally driven, equally talented peers. Drawing on his own transition from ISD to life after, he asks a question many quietly avoid: when the environment changes, and the gap closes, what is left of the person you thought you were? It is a feeling most people recognize, but few talk about out loud.

Fitness and Life coach

Karim Hassain

Born and raised in Syria, Karim relocated to Hungary in 2012 amidst the Syrian civil war, later earning his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Debrecen. Today, he empowers others as a fitness and mindset coach while fostering cultural connection in Debrecen through his Middle Eastern food shop.

In his compelling TEDx talk, Karim explores how genuine forgiveness becomes the ultimate key to personal freedom. Through lessons on letting go of the past, relinquishing the desire for revenge, and leading with radical empathy, he reveals how sincere kindness can transform both individual lives and entire communities.

Grade 4 teacher

David Jahed

David Jahed is an international educator and Grade 4 homeroom teacher at International School of Debrecen. His journey has taken him from Iran to classrooms across Asia and Europe. With over 20 years of experience in education, he is passionate about inspiring young people to become curious, compassionate, and courageous learners. As someone who has repeatedly rebuilt his life across cultures and continents, David believes that education is one of the most powerful ways to shape a better future.

In his TEDx talk, Dreams Don't Need Permission, David explores how education can become an act of hope and a value that transforms not only what we know, but what we believe is possible. Inspired by his own journey across cultures and classrooms, he reflects on how learning has the power to challenge limitations, nurture resilience, and help people imagine futures beyond the circumstances they were born into.

ELA Teacher

Fodor Angéla

Angela Fodor is an English Language Acquisition teacher at the International School of Debrecen, dedicated to helping students find their voice and thrive in a new language. Beyond the classroom, she runs an independent cat rescue from her home, caring for vulnerable cats and finding them loving families. Through school and youth camp visits, she combines her passion for teaching with animal welfare, inspiring young people to embrace responsible care and compassion.

In her TEDx talk, Angela explores how real changemaking does not require a grand title or large organization—it simply begins with the willingness to act. Through humorous and heartfelt stories from the frontlines of independent rescue, she challenges the audience to rethink the bystander effect and shows how helping just one vulnerable life can spark a powerful chain reaction of empathy and positive change.

Fitness and Life coach

Karim Hassain

Born and raised in Syria, Karim relocated to Hungary in 2012 amidst the Syrian civil war, later earning his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Debrecen. Today, he empowers others as a fitness and mindset coach while fostering cultural connection in Debrecen through his Middle Eastern food shop.

In his compelling TEDx talk, Karim explores how genuine forgiveness becomes the ultimate key to personal freedom. Through lessons on letting go of the past, relinquishing the desire for revenge, and leading with radical empathy, he reveals how sincere kindness can transform both individual lives and entire communities.

Parent School Organization

The Parent School Organization (PSO) is a dynamic and collaborative team that seeks to support all members of the school community toward the realization of the school’s mission.

The Parent Voice of ISD:

  • Supports the development of positive relationships among all ISD stakeholders
  • Supports effective and respectful communication within the ISD community
  • Supports ISD administration in maintaining high academic standards
  • Supports onboarding of new families
  • Organizes social activities/events and fundraising initiatives that enrich and enhance the experience of ISD community members
  • Cooperates with local communities and charities to provide students with meaningful experiences that expand global understanding
  • Strives to involve and empower parents in appropriate ways

Leadership consists of duly elected parent officers including president, vice president, treasurer, and PR coordinator. The divisional principals and teacher leaders participate in the meetings in an advisory role.

The purpose of the PSO is to provide a forum for parents to coordinate feedback and promote active participation in the work of the parents. Active participation is encouraged!

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