In this eye-opening TEDx talk, Manish Kelshikar, Founder & CEO of Woloo, confronts a critical yet often ignored issue—access to hygienic public toilets in India. He draws a powerful connection between sanitation, women's independence, and the success of industries like tourism and retail. With urgency and clarity, he urges us to break the silence around toilets—because our nation's dignity, health, and economic future may just depend on it. Founder & CEO of Shark Tank-featured startup Woloo, he leads a women-focused loo discovery and hygiene platform. A Design graduate from NIFT and MBA from FIT, NY, he brings 20+ years of global fashion retail experience, including roles at Walmart (USA) and Shoppers Stop, where he built the private label business. He founded DSGN Inc, India’s only design BPO for global fashion brands, and has led branding for TRENT’s House of Pataudi. An award-winning innovator, he has been recognized by NASSCOM, Walt Disney, and the World Trade Centre for his design excellence and sustainability efforts. 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

Maria captivated the audience with a masterful fusion of physics and introspection, framing light’s paradoxes—wave-particle duality, speed limits, and intangible mass—as mirrors to human emotion. She revealed how anxiety’s irrationality mirrors light’s enigmatic nature, reframed procrastination as perfectionism’s shadow, and championed guilt-free self-care using Oxford research on happiness and productivity. Linking light’s role in sustaining life to mental well-being, she argued that resilience, like light, thrives when balanced with rest. Her talk culminated in a powerful call to embrace complexity, proving that even cosmic mysteries hold lessons for navigating our brightest and darkest moments. Maria Wolters is a G8 student at FDIS. 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

Marcus framed “light” as hope emerging from life’s shadows—a grandmother’s wisdom lifting him from academic despair, self-belief quieting years of paralyzing stage fright, and friends cracking his self-isolating “cocoon” of screen addiction. Through raw anecdotes—a failed math exam, a speech competition meltdown, and losing friends to digital escapism—Marcus illustrated how light isn’t just external; it’s the courage to let others in and the resolve to ignite change. Marcus Chen is a G6 student at FDIS. 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

Emmy redefined “light” as a metaphor for identity, weaving a journey from darkness to clarity. Recalling a train tunnel in Yunnan—where time froze in blackness—she paralleled it to life’s struggles, where “light at the end” emerges through three lenses: natural (true self, solitude), artificial (false self, societal masks), and chemical (firework-like clashes of authenticity and facade). Sharing her art class meltdown, she revealed how external validation clashed with her inner critic, only to spark growth when blended. “Let your chemicals explode,” she urged, framing life’s chaos as fleeting yet transformative sparks. With a final fireworks crescendo, Emma reminded us that even darkness guides us toward light. Emmy Chen is a G9 student at FDIS. 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 a moving speech, Emma reframed "light" as more than a metaphor—its persistence, clarity, and hope forged through hardship. She shared her journey during her mother’s battle with breast cancer amid the COVID-19 lockdowns, which left her isolated, emotionally withdrawn, and clinging to masks—literal and metaphorical. Though her mother’s recovery brought relief, Emma’s own healing was slow, requiring deliberate steps to reclaim joy through family, self-discovery, and small, bright moments: music, laughter, and cherished connections. Her story reminded us that light isn’t just grand ideals—it’s in everyday sparks we choose to see, even when darkness feels overwhelming. Emma Umumera is a G9 student at FDIS. 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

Emily Mao delivered a heartfelt address at the event, weaving personal anecdotes and global examples to explore “light” as a metaphor for kindness and resilience. Drawing parallels between the animated film The Wild Robot, her piano mentor Alex, and activist Dolores Huerta, she illustrated how perseverance and compassion can illuminate paths for others. Her speech highlighted the transformative power of small acts—like a neighbor’s encouragement or a leader’s advocacy—to inspire hope and drive change. Emily concluded with a rallying call for attendees to embody these values, urging them to “shine brightly” by paying forward the light they receive. Emily Mao is a G3 student at FDIS. 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