1. Out
Creating
Positive Change
Go’s Annisa Rochadiat takes a look at
the upcoming innovative TEDxYouth
conference being hosted in Amman
L
eading the life of your typical West
Ammani fourth grader, Dania Juma
may come across as another cute bubbly
young lady with a sweettooth and penchant
for cupcakes who loves to swim, write, draw,
hangout with her best friend, and is also an avid
fan of teen pop sensation Selena Gomez. What
most of us don’t realize (and will be pleasantly
surprised to know), is that Dania is anything
but your average nine-year-old. Amid all the
studying and after-school activities, she is also in
charge of liaising with her peers in age; voicing
their interests and aspirations, churning ideas
in an effort to keep them inspired and engaged
on one of the largest grassroot projects that has
generated much hype the world over.
Joining a line of some 20 other dedicated
volunteers ranging from college students to
social activists, Dania is part of a team of
visionaries who have taken it upon themselves
to carve out a third space in society — a space
which is conducive to the mutual exchange
of ideas and aspirations among younger
generations. Dania and friends will help deliver
the Kingdom’s first youth-inspired TEDx event:
TEDxYouth@Amman.
Founded by Richard Saul Wurman and Harry
Marks in 1984 in Monterey, California, TED
(which stands for Technology, Entertainment,
Design), is an intellectual forum for people to
share ideas and inspirational experiences through
a series of conferences and motivational talks.
Spearheaded by people who believe in the power
of ideas to create positive change and progress,
TED speakers have included a range of cross-
spectrum global visionaries such as Bill Gates,
Al Gore, Temple Grandin, and Bono. EvEnt DEtails
When: Saturday, 19
TED became an annual initiative in 1990 November, 2011
and has since developed into a global-wide Where: Cultural Palace,
project that includes, among others, self- Gate 1, Al Hussein Youth
organized, locally-hosted events called “TEDx,” City, Queen Alia St.
a project that was first introduced in 2009. Set Get Connected:
to take place on 19 November, TEDxYouth@ www.tedxyouth
Amman is part of a series of TEDx events amman.com
hosted exclusively for and organized by young Facebook: www.facebook.
people all over the world in commemmorating com/TEDxYouthAmman
Universal Children’s Day, known as the twitter: @TEDxYouthAmman
24 | NOV. 2011

2. TEDxYouthDay series. Although varying in
size and theme, TEDxYouthDay events share a 3 Minutes
common vision of “inspiring curiousity, igniting
new ideas, and empowering young leaders.”
of faMe
Would you like to share
Hoping to pioneer new standards for creative an idea on stage for three
minutes in front of some
thinking and self-learning among the youths of 1,500 people? Go for
Jordan, the region, and beyond, TEDxYouth@ the TEDxYouth@Amman
Amman seeks to open up a conversation Youth Award competition!
on “Educativity.” This is a relatively novel All you’ll have to do is
send in a three-minute
concept that aims to explore and capitalize video — in English
on the relationship between education and or Arabic — of what
creativity, while reflecting on the role creativity “Educativity” means
in education holds in society. It also assesses — to you and simply
wherever and whenever relevant — the country’s email it to dina@
tedxyouthamman.com. Be
education and learning system in the process. sure that it’s an original,
Picking on the brains and life experiences never been publicized
of the nation’s young, the full-day event will video to preserve the
showcase Jordan’s best and brightest as they element of surprise until
exchange education and creativity-inspired the event day.
Now, if you’re eager
stories, ideas, and ambitions, as well as to tune into what the
community-building initiatives and blueprints for nation’s finest have to
change. Dania and the rest of the TEDxYouth@ offer, but happen to be
Amman team represent a growing phenomenon out of town during the
of extraordinary, bright, creative, and outspoken event or weren’t able to
register for attendance,
young people — Jordan’s own born and bred — not to worry. As with
who are driven to learn and excel, to inspire and other TEDx events
motivate people around them in bringing about and TED conferences,
positive change to society. TEDxYouth@Amman will
Nowhere is this more clearly seen than in be live-streamed via at
www.livestream.com/
the solid line-up of speakers set to share the tedxyouthamman.
TEDxYouth@Amman stage. From prodigies
of music and the arts to inventors and SCAN HErE
entrepreneurs, educators and writers to social for WEBSitE
The opportunity activists, this event promises to be one of
to volunteer at the city’s most intellectually stimulating and
this year’s event entertaining occasions not to be missed.
may have closed,
but if you or
your company
is interested in
becoming a
sponsor, go ahead
and shoot an
email to sponsor@
tedxyouthamman.
com today!