Theme: Perspectives

TEDxYouth@RahaSchool is an independently organised TEDx event which will take place on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, with several speakers from the Raha International School community. At Raha, we celebrate empowering diverse beliefs through recognising and respecting the inherent dignity of each. In the spirit of collaboration and critical thinking, we hope to spread ideas that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.

We live in a rapidly changing and modernising world in which new perspectives, innovative minds, pioneers, and entrepreneurs are the key to learning about novel and groundbreaking discoveries. Therefore, our theme ‘Perspectives’ intends to illuminate the importance of open-mindedness and critical thinking, while maintaining an awareness of compelling arguments and unusual problems or solutions to the youth of our school community.

Our event intends to amplify how the essence of stories, experiences, and big issues can project a new outlook on addressing significant problems that challenge our world today.

Raha International School
Khalifa City 'A', Al Raha Gardens
Raha International School
Abu Dhabi, Abū Z̧aby, 000
United Arab Emirates

Aaron Vigar

Secondary teacher

Aaron’s love of all things education started when he was young and that love led him through multiple degrees at multiple universities all in constant pursuit of having a job that allows him to stay in school forever. Aaron has been a teacher in his home country of Canada, as well as abroad, for close to a decade and he continues to be, by his own admission, a huge nerd. His topic focuses on the growing reliance on, and pursuit of, the numbers in education and what we give up when we lose sight of the truly inspirational and transformative power and purpose of education.

Abdalla Khalifa

DP Student

Born in Egypt and currently living in Abu Dhabi, Abdalla aspires to become a neuroscientist and conduct psychological research. He is not only a fantastic cook and great horseback rider but also enjoys reading about global history and politics. During his talk, Abdalla will be discussing the often stigmatised and underestimated importance of self-reflection in terms of mental health and development.

Ishneet Kaur

Marketing Professional

Ishneet is known for her 'never give up' attitude. She firmly believes in the adage that you should never limit yourself because the world is a stage full of opportunities. Being achievement oriented, she leaves a mark wherever she goes. Since childhood, she has loved dancing be it Kathak, Bharatnatyam or the western dance forms. Three Golden words that make the foundation for her are: Dream big, have faith and enjoy the moment! Her talk discusses the 'Nature of Knowledge'-- to broaden the horizon of knowledge and talk about something other than academics. She will explore the knowledge about self and the tools that one can use to excel in life.

Kira Shim

DP Student

Inspired at a young age by passionate speakers intent on spreading their message, Kira developed her own love of public speaking. Presenting at TED is a lifelong dream for her, with TEDxYouth being the first step in the right direction. Kira is born Canadian with both a Korean and Belgian heritage, who has lived in the United Arab Emirates for just over a decade. The result? An international education in which she engaged with innovative and global concepts. Her topic: “The Evolution of Trust” will force you to question your approach to transactions. She will open your eyes to the history of trade, from barter to bytes, and cash to cryptography. Most of all, she aims to inspire, just as she was.

Monica Panigrahy

DP Student

An Indian by birth and a self-proclaimed ideophile, Monica likes delving into a range of different topics – from the Emu War to the Butter Crisis. When she’s not reading about odd things, she likes to try out new recipes. She is an exceptional debater and public speaker, being out on the stage from a very young age. She aspires to empower those who are stripped of a voice. Passionate about social issues, she will be addressing the flaws in the justice system and how we, as a community can approach them.

Ros Marshall

Chief Executive Officer at Taaleem

With over thirty years of management experience in education-based businesses, Ros is currently the CEO of Taaleem-- one of the largest education providers in the Middle East. Before moving to Dubai, Ros was the CEO of Kidsunlimited and the Chief Operating Officer of Nord Anglia Education PLC. Additionally, she is a keen supporter of the Arts and Education and will focus her topic on “How Art Changes Us”.

Shriya Baweja

DP Student

Born in Canada and currently living in Abu Dhabi, Shriya is fascinated by the realm of technology and loves to experiment in life. She is an exceptional classical Indian dancer, and is also able to play the piano. Shriya can speak 5 languages and is currently teaching herself Korean. Her talk will be raising awareness about the significance of living in the moment, and seeking inner peace in our fast-paced generation.

Yara Al Najar

DP Student

Yara is an excellent public speaker and a patriotic Palestinian. She has a curiosity for learning and believes that education is the greatest gift to mankind. Her aspirations include encouraging others to speak up, share their experiences with the world, spread international-mindedness and raise an awareness of the importance of different backgrounds coexisting together. Her talk will highlight why it is necessary to shift our question from "What is a refugee?" to "Who is a refugee?".

Yesmine Abida

DP Student

Born in Tunisia but a true citizen of the world, having lived in seven different cities and attended eight different schools, Yesmine has embraced her ability to adapt and connect with the world around her. She has an obsession with sticky rice, henna, and puns. Yesmine aspires to become a writer who desires to portray aspects of human experiences that are taken for granted. Through her poem “Midnight Revelations”, Yesmine aims to provide her poetic perspective on the realities that encompass global issues in today’s world.