ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — TEDx Nishtiman kicked off Saturday morning in Erbil with 12 Kurdish and international speakers speaking to an audience of hundreds who came from across Kurdistan and the world to experience the one-day event.
Rawand Hussen, the founder and co-organizer of the event said this was a test for Kurdish youth that they too can hold volunteer events like this, as he officially opened the day.
He began his speech by thanking Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, whom he said helped some 150 volunteers to organize the event.
“If it were not for the martyrs of Kurdistan, we could not be on this stage today,” Hussen said, becoming emotional as he told of how he lost some of his Peshmerga friends who died in the ongoing war against ISIS.
“Sometimes people from outside this country will say that the Kurdish young people are not doing something in volunteer work or organizing international events,” Hussen told Rudaw English on the eve of the conference.
The theme for the conference was ‘Rehabilitation and Development.’ It was put on as part of the internationally known TED talks. TED, an acronym for Technology, Entertainment, Design, launched its first conference in 1984 focusing on its namesakes, but has grown immensely in the digital age with frequent events and podcasts.
Interest in the Kurdistan Region for TEDxNishtiman was so great that it sold out Erbil’s Saad Abdullah Hall well in advance.
Rawand Hussen, the founder and co-organizer of the event said this was a test for Kurdish youth that they too can hold volunteer events like this, as he officially opened the day.
He began his speech by thanking Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, whom he said helped some 150 volunteers to organize the event.
“If it were not for the martyrs of Kurdistan, we could not be on this stage today,” Hussen said, becoming emotional as he told of how he lost some of his Peshmerga friends who died in the ongoing war against ISIS.
“Sometimes people from outside this country will say that the Kurdish young people are not doing something in volunteer work or organizing international events,” Hussen told Rudaw English on the eve of the conference.
The theme for the conference was ‘Rehabilitation and Development.’ It was put on as part of the internationally known TED talks. TED, an acronym for Technology, Entertainment, Design, launched its first conference in 1984 focusing on its namesakes, but has grown immensely in the digital age with frequent events and podcasts.
Interest in the Kurdistan Region for TEDxNishtiman was so great that it sold out Erbil’s Saad Abdullah Hall well in advance.
Several Kurdish officials attended, including Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani and head of Foreign Relations Falah Mustafa.
Barbara Rijks, head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Iraq, who participated in the event said that the theme of the event matches the work of the IOM that is helping with rebuilding and developing the Kurdistan Region and Iraq in light of the ongoing war against ISIS and the subsequent displacement of the Iraqi population.
Sherri Kraham Talabany, founder of the SEED Foundation promoting development in the Kurdistan Region, spoke highlighting the enormous task facing survivors of ISIS violence. Psycho-social services for victims of ISIS are few, she said, and survivors are often told to just deal with it.
She stressed that both men and women need psychological services.
Rudaw was media sponsor for the event.
Barbara Rijks, head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Iraq, who participated in the event said that the theme of the event matches the work of the IOM that is helping with rebuilding and developing the Kurdistan Region and Iraq in light of the ongoing war against ISIS and the subsequent displacement of the Iraqi population.
One of the speakers was prominent Arab journalist Souhair al-Qayssei. She is a Goodwill Ambassador and partner with the UN World Food Program.
The day’s speakers also Raed al-Saleh, head of the White Helmets, who unable to travel to Erbil but sent a video message. The White Helmets are 2,900 unarmed volunteer first responders working to save the lives of civilians caught up in the Syrian conflict. They have saved more than 80,000 lives since 2013, Saleh said, adding that he dreams of peace and stability in Syria.
Sherri Kraham Talabany, founder of the SEED Foundation promoting development in the Kurdistan Region, spoke highlighting the enormous task facing survivors of ISIS violence. Psycho-social services for victims of ISIS are few, she said, and survivors are often told to just deal with it.
She stressed that both men and women need psychological services.
Rudaw was media sponsor for the event.
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