DUHOK, Kurdistan Region – It took approximately five months and 75 volunteers of all ages to finalize everything needed to host the first ever TEDx event in Duhok, a mountainous city and a tourist spot located in the northern part of the Kurdistan Region.
For the organizers, it is about giving motivated speakers an opportunity to share their life journey, like Wahid Chicho who was born a dwarf and is married with two children but was once told he will never have a family of his own.
A group of entrepreneurs, inventors, IT experts, medical professionals and other talented motivational speakers came together on Saturday to share their experiences and knowledge with locals and foreign nationals alike in the event.
Salih said the organizers first started the process to host the event in Duhok almost a year ago and after licensing and sponsorship were approved, they were able to put it together.
A total of 11 speakers were each allowed between 15-18 minutes to share their personal stories of life experiences and education to help inspire hundreds of people who joined the event become motivated to create a better future for themselves.
The speakers were mostly from Duhok, but also came from other parts of Iraq and the Kurdistan region such as Sulaimani, Zakho, Bashiqa, Mosul and even as far as Los Angeles, California in the United States.
“Here we are trying to look for, promote and bring ideas on stage where they [the speakers] can express their feelings, their ideas freely,” Executive Producer, Hussam Mohammed said. “I think there are not many places to do this, so TEDx Duhok gives us the platform, the frame where we can bring and motivate young people to bring their ideas.”
Mohammed believes it is important for young, creative thinkers to deliver their ideas to others which will encourage and motivate others to move forward in their lives. “This was one of the main reasons to bring TEDx to Duhok,” he said.
“Plus, we think that Duhok people deserve the best and we’ve tried to bring the best here to Duhok,” Muhammad added.
One speaker, Wahid Chicho, age 31 from Duhok, spoke of the struggles and difficulties he had being born as a dwarf. Regardless of the discrimination he faced growing up; he completed his studies and went on to establish the Kurdistan Dwarf Association – Duhok Branch.
Wahid Chicho delivers his speech at Duhok's first TEDx event on August 26, 2017. Photo by author.
He had been told that he would never be able to have a family, but today he is married and has two children. Chicho also went on to establish the Kurdistan Paralympic Committee/Duhok Representative Office and the Duhok Disabled Network.
Hezha Khan, age 26, from Sulaimani was another speaker who became Founder/CEO of APC for Youth Empowerment that encourages economically disadvantaged Kurdish youth to become change makers in their local communities. She is also a Country Representative who travels the world encouraging peace in the Middle East and Africa through speeches and workshops.
Khan believes that the government as well as today’s youth play a crucial role in bringing about social change and women equality in their communities, especially with the upcoming Kurdish referendum for independence on September 25. Khan encourages people to challenge themselves and to follow their dreams.
Levi Clancy, age 26 from Los Angeles is currently a software developer and freelance journalist living in Erbil. Clancy, who began university when he was 13-years-old and graduated with a major in Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics and a minor in Mesopotamian History was drawn to the Kurdistan region after visiting as a tourist in 2010.
Clancy spoke about the Kurdistan region as being a safe, tolerant and diverse state in a region torn by war and instability.
He also highlighted the acceptance of the diverse ethnic and religious groups living here.
Clancy described Kurdistan as, “It is its own country – but for now and against all odds, a country inside of another country.”
“Because even though the map says Iraq, but the reason that I as an American, as a Jew, with no security or guards or anything, can call this home – is because I am in Kurdistan,” he added.
Clancy said that as an American he can’t say that Kurds should vote “yes” or “no” in the upcoming referendum. However, he did say that “Kurdistan is a sort of example for the world in the issues of the future.”
Video: Levi Clancy, age 26 from Los Angeles is currently a software developer and freelance journalist living in Erbil. He shared his thoughts on Kurdistan and its bid to hold independence referendum.
The event also brought together a diverse group of volunteers of all ages who worked for several months in the planning and physical preparation of hosting a world famous event.
Aryan, age 21, a medical student at the University of Duhok volunteered by helping with photography. She said the group worked well together to bring a meaningful event to their community.
“This was the first great step if we are thinking of becoming a great country,” Aryan said. “TEDx Duhok was the first step towards changing our society. I saw people in the audience getting affected by such great, bright ideas that the speakers were talking about and especially when they introduced Kurdistan to other nations.
When Executive Producer Mohammed was asked if they would bring TEDx back to Duhok again, he responded, “This is the end of the beginning. The journey has to continue and we’ll try to do our best to make better results."
“I urge the communities around the world to bring TEDx to their communities because communities have ideas and are creative and can do great things, but they need a platform. TEDx can be their platform.”
