-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The successful TEDxNishtiman conference in Erbil on Saturday was organized with the participation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, said a representative of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a “great example” of the Rehabilitation and Development that was the theme of the event.
“IOM likes to take creative approaches to the work that we’re doing within the transition and recovery area. And TEDx is a great example of that where we’ve gathered a large number of particularly young people from a cross-section of the community,” Ashley J. Carl told Rudaw English on the sidelines of the conference. IOM was a sponsor.
The conference, put on by 150 volunteers, brought together diverse speakers from around the world, all who were passionate about what they do with an enthusiasm that inspired attendees.
Hanna Jaff, a politician in Mexico, grew up in the United States, and spoke during the conference about her Latin and Kurdish roots.
Jaff said some people may look at her and see an American, or Mexican, the fact that she's a woman or that she carries the name of her tribe; however, for her it's insignificant.
Jaff's message resonated with Bruno Geddo, the UNHCR representative in Iraq.
"This is one of the subjects that I am most passionate about," Geddo told Rudaw English after the conference. "I presume, because I cannot be in their places, that the outcome of people who identify with different cultures is that they 'double-up' if I might say this in their identity as citizen of the world.”
"At the end of the day when we are the products of different cultures, we may only find our balance when we all presume to be human beings," he said.
Geddo, who was attending his first ever TED or TEDx live event, noted the desire to affect positive change as the speakers' common thread.
"The question I was asking myself was 'How would these people remember all that they have to say with no notes, and speak so eloquently?' And today, I think I found the answer -- because they’re inspired. Their tremendous inspiration was their common denominator."
Photo: Chris Johannes
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment