Each year, the Rákoczi Foundation sponsors and/or supports a variety of events that assist in educating and enlightening Canadians about Hungarian Culture. Some of those programs include:
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO HUNGARIAN STUDIES:
The Rákoczi Foundation works in close collaboration with the Széchenyi Society and the Hungarian Research Institute of Canada in support of the Hungarian Studies Program at the University of Toronto.
Hungarian Studies Conference: The Rákóczi Foundation supports conferences organized under the auspices of the Hungarian Studies Program at the University of Toronto. These conferences are organized annually for both academics and students and bring together presenters who cover a wide range of topics including history, arts, cultural identity and literature. Conferences are held at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto and are open to the general public. For further information, see munkschool.utoronto.ca/program/hungarian-studies. In 2019, the Foundation supported a visiting professor from Hungary to teach in the program.
KODALY FOLK DANCE ENSEMBLE:
The Foundation is pleased to support the work of the Kodály Hungarian Folk Dance Ensemble of Toronto. The Kodaly dance ensemble practices and performs traditional Hungarian dances from Hungary, Transylvania, Slovakia, Serbia, Moldova and the Ukraine. The Kodály Ensemble promotes culture through dance at various events across Ontario and beyond. Each spring an annual Folk Dance Festival and competition for individuals and groups of various age groups is organized by the Kodály Ensemble and attracts participants from across North America.
TCDSB HUNGARIAN HIGHSCHOOL CREDIT PROGRAM:
The Rákoczi Foundation is proud to support students interested in Hungarian Culture, Language and Literature and works with the Toronto District Catholic School Board’s Hungarian Education Program to provide awards and scholarships to students who demonstrate a strong commitment to expanding their knowledge of Hungarian language and culture in Canada and for outstanding marks in the school program. Prizes are given in several categories. The students enrolled in the Hungarian program are automatically entered for consideration and awards are presented annually to the students at the close of the school year in June.
HUNGARIAN SCOUTS OF CANADA:
The Foundation supports Hungarian Scouts in Canada to organize scout camps in their own communities, weekend camp outings and to attend international Jamborees, where scouts from Canada interact with scouts from around the world.
ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY ELEMENTARY LANGUAGE SCHOOL
The Rákoczi Foundation is pleased to support students interested in Hungarian Culture, Language and Literature and supports the elementary Language Program administered by the Toronto Catholic District School Board at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church.
In 2020, the Foundation supported the expansion of the teaching space within the School. Two additional classrooms have been built and several remodeled, expanding the school and allowing the high school program to operate side by side with the elementary school. We are pleased that one of the new rooms has been named in honour of our namesake, Ferenc Rákoczi.