In this truly thought-provoking speech, Matthias explores one of the most challenging concepts: family. Matthias explores the extent of our connection between our communities exists and the role that family plays in our everyday lives, petitioning for a reevaluation of what the term "family" truly means across all societies. My name is Matthias Meyer, and I'm currently a junior in high school in Dubai. I'm passionate about teaching, mathematics and public speaking, and I spend most of my time either doing school work or enjoying life with family and friends around me. My speech, 'Related by Blood', speaks for itself; I hope that, if you hear it you, it would not be vain, but would stir palpable change in your life. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Seema talks about the delicate balance between winning and losing in this speech. By exploring different, real world scenarios, the grey area between these two opposing terms is explored and how losing is an integral part of winning. I’m Seema Kutaich, a Grade 7 student passionate about debating, public speaking, netball, and story writing. I’m excited to share my speech titled “Winning Isn’t Everything, Losing Is Important Too,” a topic we all often debate. I’ve had the opportunity to participate in the Harvard Model Congress and World Scholars Cup, which have helped me develop my leadership and communication skills. In the future, I hope to combine my interests in communication, leadership, problem-solving, editing, and math, exploring roles in fields like business and the digital world. I look forward to sharing my ideas and continuing my journey of growth! This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

In this talk, speaker Ciline Yaghmour explores how the media we consume heavily influences our perception of the world. Ciline explores the mental corruption that modern-day media can have, especially on youth, and how we can mitigate it together to create a safe, bias-free media consumption environment. Ciline Yaghmour is a determined speaker who is unafraid to challenge conventional thinking. She is an IBDP grade 11 student at UIS, who will be delivering a contrarian-based TEDx talk as she explores the theme of 'grey area', while suggesting its intricate connections to a range of thought-provoking topics that defy black-and-white perspectives. As a student set to graduate in 2026, Ciline has already spoken on global stages before. She has spoken at events such as The Big Five, as well as at concerts and school assemblies where she was able to captivate audiences, and gain the confidence through prior experience as she shared bold and insightful ideas. Beyond public-speaking, Ciline aspires to become an architect, as her passion stems from art, industrial development and environmental empowerment. Her vision extends beyond aesthetics, as she seeks to design spaces that foster innovation, sustainability and human connection. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Through this TED Talk, Mariam explores the hidden costs of convenience in our daily lives, specifically within fast fashion. Mariam delves deeper into the ethical implications of our conscious choices to use fast fashion and the struggles associated with such consumerism. I’m Mariam Abdelrehim, an ambitious, knowledgeable, and determined 14-year-old Egyptian. I love everything pasta, books, numbers, and tennis. I aspire to work in the finance and investing industry when I’m older, with the goal of making a significant impact and eventually becoming a major player on Wall Street with my own company. I am deeply passionate about our environments health and global justice. I was a former, The Alliance of Sustainable schools (TASS), ambassador and represented my old school internationally. I was also a leading Eco-Council member. My speech will mainly run around sustainability but within a specified genre. I will delve into an ongoing problem that detrimentally affects our environment and the wellbeing of those involved in the related industry; all the while understanding our position in this situation and how to surpass the grey area of this problem. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

From a peaceful, disruptive protest to a national movement—how rewilding, reconciliation, and Indigenous leadership hold the key to restoring our forests and securing our future. The solution lies in rewilding, reconciliation, and Indigenous self-determination. Through the Heal Country, Heal Culture program, we’re working alongside Traditional Owners to acquire, restore, and regenerate critical ecosystems, ensuring both environmental and cultural survival. The question is—will we be the generation that lets it all slip away, or the one that stands up to heal our country and culture? Jimmy Stanton-Cooke is a passionate environmental activist with over 20 years of experience driving action for healthier forests, thriving wildlife, and a more sustainable planet. As the Co-founder and CEO of HalfCut, he is dedicated to addressing the climate emergency and inspiring others to join the fight for our planet’s future. The "HalfCut" concept is at the core of Jimmy’s mission. With 50% of the world’s forests destroyed, Jimmy embodies the statistic, wearing the issue on his face. Jimmy invites everyone to be part of the solution, proving that taking action for our planet can be both meaningful and fun. "Flip the coin – our future depends on it." This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

The subconscious mind consists of a multitude of experiences, both good and bad, that a person has gone through from the womb up to the present day. This collection of experiences and knowledge forms the basis of every decision we make in response to daily reality, with a powerful influence of 95–99%, often occurring automatically and sometimes without our awareness (uncontrolled).Almira likens the dynamics of the human subconscious to a pair of glasses. If these glasses are cracked, it becomes difficult for us to see reality as it truly is. Reality becomes distorted, and as a result, the decisions we make are automatically based on information from that distorted reality.Quoting Anaïs Nin, “We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.” Therefore, if we want to make better decisions and lead a successful and meaningful life, we must first improve the way we perceive reality—in other words, we must fix our glasses. Almira is a professional in the field of personal development, currently focusing specifically on her roles as a Hypnotherapist, Educator, and Consultant. Her deep passion for the dynamics of the human subconscious has led her to the understanding that people are inherently born with a good nature and are meant to succeed. However, negative beliefs and past experiences stored in the subconscious often hinder individuals from fulfilling their destiny of becoming successful. To reach success, one must embark on an inner journey and overcome these obstacles.Almira’s core mission is to support others in their personal growth, guiding them to become whole, successful individuals living meaningful lives aligned with their true essence. For her, change within one person has the potential to create a ripple effect, influencing others around them—and this is what can help make the world a more livable place. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx