ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – For the first time ever, the Hawler Medical University hosted a university TEDx event in Erbil, with the theme "dare to bend" which drew hundreds to listen to a diverse group of speakers, including medical professionals, sports professionals, graphic artists and fashion designers.
"The theme 'dare to bend' means dare to be different," said organizer of the event, Eman Ibrahim. "Even if you have an idea and it doesn't fit into the norms of society, dare to bend these norms as long as they are within the restrictions of law and religion, otherwise everything else should bend to help us move forward in our lives."
Ibrahim said that it took around 55 volunteers and organizers to put together the event which was supported financially by several sponsors in the region as a budget was not provided to host the university event.
"We basically want to pave the way for other universities so that they have the opportunity to start their own TEDx," Salah said. "It's a platform which gives an opportunity to both the speakers to share their ideas, innovations, what they've done and how we can benefit, how we can improve the area "
Salah said it also gives a chance to the audience to listen to these ideas and hopefully inspires them to take part in areas which will benefit the society.
"We have a lot of people that have amazing talent within our society, but there isn't enough coverage or enough support from our society and our community that will help these youths," Salah added.
Salah encourages people to take part in such events even if it is only as a volunteer. Although it can be challenging and tiring, it can also be very satisfying, she said.
Several medical students from the university attended the event and told Rudaw English how proud they were that Hawler Medical University hosted this TEDx.
"I was very excited to come here," said Karwan Sherzad, a six-year medical student who one day hopes to practice cardiovascular medicine. "As I sat down and listened to the speakers, it was an honor for our community to have such active speakers and I enjoyed their speeches, information and creativity."
Another medical student in her third year, Van Fadhil, said this was her first ever TEDx event.
Fadhil believes that speaking to an audience requires a lot of confidence and can help build character.
Sarezh Muhammed is also a third-year medical student. "It's so amazing that you see your colleagues doing something big and international," she said, adding that she feels like they are her family and that they are doing something great by hosting and participating in this TEDx.
"If you want to do something, go for it, don't be scared, just plan it and do it," Muhammed said. "if you want to be a speaker, try to send your message around the world."
Muhammed also said that she thinks and hopes she could also be a speaker one day.
"Universities are creative about these events," Kaya said. "They are productive sources for information and know-how," he said, adding that he would like to see more universities in the region follow suit in hosting such events.
"The speakers were creative and unique in their fields and seemed successful," he said. "They are able to give something to the audience, to the young professionals, so it was satisfying but must be enriched."
"I have noticed, especially this year that we are passing through hard times both politically and economically." Kaya added. "These [events] are the veins, the breathing mechanisms which are putting us in touch with the outside world so that we can be productive on our own, that we can crawl, even though we are in a slowed phase."
Kawa said he was thankful to the organizers of the Hawler Medical University for hosting this TEDx and would love to see a regular agenda for those interested in attending such events "in order to create a common hub of creativity and production."
Kawa believes that such TEDx events with a diverse group of speakers can help inspire the region and will "give better leverage to the Kurdistan Region so that it can stand on its feet once again."
"The theme 'dare to bend' means dare to be different," said organizer of the event, Eman Ibrahim. "Even if you have an idea and it doesn't fit into the norms of society, dare to bend these norms as long as they are within the restrictions of law and religion, otherwise everything else should bend to help us move forward in our lives."
Speakers of the event came from the Kurdistan Region, across Iraq and as far as eastern Asia.
Ibrahim said that it took around 55 volunteers and organizers to put together the event which was supported financially by several sponsors in the region as a budget was not provided to host the university event.
Hanan Salah, the event manager mentioned that there have been several TEDx events across the Kurdistan Region, but this was the second university-sponsored TEDx event and the first one held by Hawler Medical University.
"We basically want to pave the way for other universities so that they have the opportunity to start their own TEDx," Salah said. "It's a platform which gives an opportunity to both the speakers to share their ideas, innovations, what they've done and how we can benefit, how we can improve the area "
Salah said it also gives a chance to the audience to listen to these ideas and hopefully inspires them to take part in areas which will benefit the society.
"We have a lot of people that have amazing talent within our society, but there isn't enough coverage or enough support from our society and our community that will help these youths," Salah added.
Salah encourages people to take part in such events even if it is only as a volunteer. Although it can be challenging and tiring, it can also be very satisfying, she said.
Several medical students from the university attended the event and told Rudaw English how proud they were that Hawler Medical University hosted this TEDx.
"I was very excited to come here," said Karwan Sherzad, a six-year medical student who one day hopes to practice cardiovascular medicine. "As I sat down and listened to the speakers, it was an honor for our community to have such active speakers and I enjoyed their speeches, information and creativity."
Another medical student in her third year, Van Fadhil, said this was her first ever TEDx event.
"It was very fun and well organized," Fadhil said. "I enjoyed all of the speakers."
Fadhil believes that speaking to an audience requires a lot of confidence and can help build character.
"I definitely received inspiration today," Fadhil added. "I love these kinds of events and hopefully one day I can speak at one of these events as well," she added.
Sarezh Muhammed is also a third-year medical student. "It's so amazing that you see your colleagues doing something big and international," she said, adding that she feels like they are her family and that they are doing something great by hosting and participating in this TEDx.
"If you want to do something, go for it, don't be scared, just plan it and do it," Muhammed said. "if you want to be a speaker, try to send your message around the world."
Muhammed also said that she thinks and hopes she could also be a speaker one day.
Dara Kaya, a Kurdish man from Turkey and co-founder of a local NGO who has been living in the Kurdistan Region for ten years said this was his third TEDx event to attend in the region but his first university hosted TEDx.
"Universities are creative about these events," Kaya said. "They are productive sources for information and know-how," he said, adding that he would like to see more universities in the region follow suit in hosting such events.
"The speakers were creative and unique in their fields and seemed successful," he said. "They are able to give something to the audience, to the young professionals, so it was satisfying but must be enriched."
By being "enriched", Kaya believes that TEDx events should be continuously held and developed, touching on the hardships that the Kurdistan Region has been through in recent months.
"I have noticed, especially this year that we are passing through hard times both politically and economically." Kaya added. "These [events] are the veins, the breathing mechanisms which are putting us in touch with the outside world so that we can be productive on our own, that we can crawl, even though we are in a slowed phase."
Kawa said he was thankful to the organizers of the Hawler Medical University for hosting this TEDx and would love to see a regular agenda for those interested in attending such events "in order to create a common hub of creativity and production."
"We've been experiencing a lot in the Kurdistan Region, politically, economically and turbulences which have been created both internally and externally," he added.
Kawa believes that such TEDx events with a diverse group of speakers can help inspire the region and will "give better leverage to the Kurdistan Region so that it can stand on its feet once again."
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