Held at the Puli & Juhász restaurant in the heart of Budapest, the event welcomed the newest members of the Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship Programme for an afternoon of network, reflection, and discovery. Through inspiring talks, interactive workshops, and shared experiences, students had the opportunity to meet one another and begin building the relationships that will accompany them throughout their studies in Hungary.
Building Connections Across Borders
Csaba Rada, Deputy State Secretary for European and North American Relations, welcomed the students on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In his speech, he encouraged them to fully embrace learning the Hungarian language and highlighted the important role Hungarian Diaspora students and their families play in building connections between countries through their shared heritage, experiences, and studies.
In his welcoming remarks, Balázs Vince Nagy, President of the Board of Trustees of the Tempus Public Foundation, emphasized that being Hungarian is not limited by borders and that the scholarship offers a special opportunity to strengthen one’s connection to Hungarian culture while building friendships with fellow Hungarians from around the world. He encouraged students to make the most of this experience and the community that comes with it.
Following the speeches, participants gathered for the premiere of the new Diaspora Short Film, which showcased the journeys of two Diaspora Scholarship holders: Emese Kiss, from South Africa, studying architecture at the University of Pécs; and Tamás Tottszer, from Australia, studying computer engineering at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. Through their very different personal stories, the film highlighted a shared experience familiar to many students in the programme: discovering new connections to their Hungarian heritage while finding a place to belong in Hungary.
The host of the event was a Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship alumna Tisza Fizli. Although she graduated this year, she remains an active and valued member of the Diaspora community. With her energetic personality and heartfelt personal story of learning Hungarian and earning a degree at Corvinus University of Budapest, she not only guided the event as its host but also offered a personal perspective on what it means to find a home in Hungary.
Reflecting on her experience, she shared:
“Throughout my years as a mentee and then a mentor in the Diaspora Program, I found a sense of community like no other. All of us sitting in this room today are here for a reason. We share a common connection that is very special. A lot of us have similar stories. The details are different, but the feeling is often the same.”
Her words resonated with many participants and captured one of the programme’s greatest strengths: while every student arrives with a different background and journey, they become part of a community built on shared experiences and mutual support.
From Meeting New People to Finding Community
The afternoon continued with two parallel workshops designed to help students learn more about themselves, each other, and the opportunities available through the scholarship programme.
The cultural workshop invited participants to share their personal stories and explore the many different ways they connect to their Hungarian heritage. Through discussions and interactive activities, students discovered both the diversity of their experiences and the common threads that unite them.
Meanwhile, the Diaspora Mentor Network workshop, organized by the National Union of Students in Hungary (HÖOK), introduced participants to the mentor programme and the support system available throughout their studies. Through four interactive stations and team challenges, students met current mentors, learned about the programme’s opportunities, and got a taste of the strong community that awaits them.
As the afternoon came to a close, students left not only with new information and new friendships, but also with the realization that they are now part of a community that extends far beyond their universities. Their journeys to Hungary may have started in different corners of the world, but from this day on, they continue together.
Here’s to new beginnings, new adventures, and lasting connections. Welcome home.
