ISR International Children’s Festival: A Day Dedicated to Children!

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Yesterday, under bright sunshine, the International Children’s Festival took place at ISR.

Known in Turkey as 23 Nisan Ulusal Egemenlik ve Çocuk Bayramı (National Sovereignty and Children’s Day), this festival has been celebrated since the 1920s and has since evolved into a significant occasion to honor children worldwide. The day’s motto is: “Our children are our future.” All children – regardless of nationality, culture, ethnicity, or religion – are invited to celebrate together, thereby sending a strong message of international solidarity and intercultural understanding.

Once again this year, numerous guests gathered at ISR for the celebrations, including Consul General Ali İhsan İzbul, Education Attaché Mrs. Gamze Bozgöz, our Turkish families, many children, teachers, and staff members. After the festive opening by Mr. Soliman, Mr. Cete – who welcomed the guests in Turkish – as well as Mrs. Vrem and Mrs. McLeod, the Consul General and the Education Attaché addressed the audience with ceremonial greetings, especially directed at the children.

The festive opening was followed by a varied stage program featuring poetry, musical performances, dance, and singing, all enthusiastically planned and rehearsed by our teachers, Mrs. Agdas and Mrs. Orhan, together with our Turkish students and supported by Mrs. Bucher, our wonderful Music Teacher at ISR. The children captivated the audience with their performances!

Afterwards, all guests enjoyed healthy snacks and drinks prepared by our SLC students. In addition, there was traditional Maraş Dondurma ice cream, organized by our Turkish Community, as well as a wide range of sporting activities supervised by our dedicated sports team – a great pleasure for all children!

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved for this wonderful afternoon and for making it possible to celebrate this special festival, dedicated to children, once again at ISR. Special thanks go to the Turkish Consulate General, which has maintained a close partnership with ISR for many years and supports the Children’s Festival celebrations, as well as to our Turkish Community – all students, teachers, and families who make this festival special every year and share this tradition, rooted in Turkey, with our international families from 60 nations at ISR!