Theme: Building Bridges

What Bridges do you see around you, either present or missing? TEDxYouth@2017 brings back it's third edition to the English-speaking community around Florence, Italy. TEDxYouth@ISF, through a series TEDx talks delivered by mainly Youth speakers, will attempt to provide you with gifts that we call "ideas worth spreading." In the past years, in addition to original choreographic and musical performances, TEDxYouth@ISF had been a powerhouse of ideas from local and international student speakers, academics, linguists, refugee advocates, and many others. TEDxYouth@ISF has been highly rated by our past attendees, and we can't wait to share this experience with you.

Auditorium Al Duomo
Via de' Cerretani, 54/R
Florence, Firenze, 50123
Italy

Allison Wei-Li Chia

Student

Originally from Malaysia, Allison is currently studying A-levels at Headington School in Oxford, United Kingdom. Her favorite activities include painting, sketching, listening to music, eating and just being. She strives to travel the world and to broaden her horizons as much as possible.

Angelica Bella

Angelica is a student at the International School of Florence.

Dante Fagotti

Student

Dante Fagotti, Italian-American, was born and raised in Florence, Italy. He has been attending the International School of Florence since he was 6 years old. His determination and willpower have pushed him to become a competitive rower and a diligent student. Dante has a twin brother, Luca, who spoke on the TEDxYouth@ISF stage in 2016.

Emily Volpe

Student

A senior at the International School of Florence, Emily is a young lady of many talents with a particular passion for music and singing.

Francesco Giubasso

Francesco is a student at the International School of Florence.

Gabbeh de Godoy Van Wijk

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Gabbeh is a half-Dutch girl who has lived in São Paulo until a year ago, when she moved to Florence with her family. She loves dancing, debating, and sweets.

Ginevra Lapi

Student

Ginevra was born in Florence to Italian parents and has studied at the International School of Florence since 2011. She is planning on pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences at university.

Giulia Bartolotta

Giulia Sabina Bartolotta is 16 years old and a junior at the International School of Florence. Born in Chicago in 2001, Giulia spent her first years living on the Gold Coast in Easter Australia. She has spent the majority of her young life in Las Vegas, Nevada, though she spent one year in New York. What was intended to be a year-long adventure in Florence has evolved into a five-year course study. Giulia attributes her curiosity to the diversity within her family and the variety of experiences she's had so far.

Giulia Oosterwijk

Student

Giulia is a sophomore at ISF. Last year she moved to Florence from Amsterdam, where she attended the International School of Amsterdam. Being born in a Dutch and Italian family, she has encountered multiple cultural experiences. She enjoys reading, traveling, and learning.

Jeanne Berthe

student

Jeanne is a senior at the International School of Florence

Leo Consumi

Student

Born to an Australian mother and an Italian father, Leo Consumi has always been influenced by two very different cultures. He has been a student and a part of the ISF community in Florence since childhood. Driven by his interest and passion for economy and finance, he taught himself the basics and recently started trading stocks. His curiosity led to his discovery of bitcoin the Blockchain technology behind it.

Lia Cusumano

Student

Lia Cusumano is a 15-year old 10th grader at the International School of Florence (ISF). She was born in Florence and is half Italian and half American. Lia is passionate about classic rock and roll, travel, and trying new things. She loves living in Florence and attending ISF.

Luca Morandini

Physiotherapist

Luca Morandini, born and raised in Florence, has been passionate about science in general since childhood. He studied physiotherapy at the University of Florence, and earned a masters degree in Manual therapy applied to the disfunctions of the neuromuscoloskeletal system. Luca is passionate about athletics, travel, animals and the physiology of pain.

Lydia Hunt

Student

Lydia attends Headington School in Oxford, UK. She is a drama scholar, thoroughly enjoys musical theatre and she plays the harp. She is currently studying drama, psychology, philosophy, and photography at A-level.

Maria Sole Franceschi

Student

Maria Sole is a tenth-grade student attending the International School of Florence. She has lived abroad in Houston and in Paris and these international experiences have granted her the possibility of living in a multicultural community and have shaped her worldview. Maria Sole also has a deep passion for reading and traveling.

Martina Chen

Student

Born and raised in Florence by Chinese parents, and now a senior at the International School of Florence, Martina's life has always been influenced by multiculturalism. By dealing with oppression first hand, she was inspired to embark on a journey of self-discovery and to turn her struggle into her strength. She has a tendency to question human existence and to over-analyse everything.

Michael Chen

Student

An Italian-born-Chinese, Michael is a graduate of the International School of Florence and a member of Brown University Class of 2022. Michael held several leadership positions in high school, but his proudest one was founding TEDxYouth@ISF, where he was the main organizer until his graduation. Michael is a polyglot, currently speaking four languages and working towards becoming a hyperglot. Michael has a wide range of interests, and always seeks to logically explain phenomena in fields such as the natural sciences, the social sciences, and linguistics.

Nicola Middleton

parent + thinker

Nicola Middleton was born in Namibia and raised in South Africa. She has a German heritage and currently lives between Florence, Italy and Johannesburg,South Africa. She dreams to expand her global lifestyle to include the Unites States, working with what she calls “the spirit of Hollywood.” In her words: “When Hollywood speaks, the world listens”.

Simone Cilluffo

Simone Cilluffo was born near Torino. He has traveled New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Laos, and France. He now lives in Italy, in the Tuscan countryside. His hobbies are paragliding, cooking and walking in the forest with his dog, Django. He is an experienced Falconer, working with falcons to control bird problems and doing falconry shows in markets and fairs around Italy.

Vittoria Conforti

Vittoria is a high schooler at the International School of Florence with gifted vocals.