TEDxYouthInspire took a unique approach to celebrating young African achievers, motivating their peers in the process. While participants were inspired by the speeches delivered in this youth-to-youth forum, our young speakers experienced special feelings going through this ground-breaking event. To share exactly what these feelings were, Shirley Osei-Mensah, Yawa Hansen-Quao and Aboyeji E Iyinoluwa walked us through their TEDxYouthInspire journey.
Shirley Osei-Mensah, Student, blogger and Internet entrepreneur
I decided to speak at TEDxYouthInspire 2010 because I wanted to share my experiences in life and what I learned with young people like me and the whole world as a whole, to inspire them in living their lives.
I think the whole TEDxYouthInspire 2010 event was a great success and it was very inspiring and motivating.
Yawa-Hansen-Quao, Social activist and travel professional
It was a great honor for me to have been invited to speak at TEDxYouthInspire. I chose to speak on the topic “Redefining Empowerment” because I believe there needs to be more mainstream discussion on how BOTH genders need to change in order to see a future with fewer divorces, more successful female leaders & confident, responsible men etc. To me, the solution is easy; we need to help men and women build confidence, enhance skills and foster positive relationships.
Participating was definitely worthwhile and I would have loved more conversation/discussion time. TEDxYouthInspire was proof positive that there does exist a pool of vibrant young Africans whose voices should be heard.
For the future, we should remain in contact and perhaps meet periodically to share more ideas “worth spreading” and catch up on the progress of our individual initiatives.
Aboyeji E Iyinoluwa, Student leader and writer
I had a slightly different experience from everyone else because I was “virtually present”. It was about 5 am on the east coast and I must admit, I did nod a little but altogether it was very good from what I saw.
At first, I thought I would not have much to say but then I decided to use the opportunity to out a project I had been working on concerning entrepreneurship education and higher education.
It would have been great to be physically present. Pre-recorded videos are all good but they don’t make for the best TED talks.
All in all, I am glad that distance did not prevent me from connecting with all the wonderful people.
All in all, it is interesting and heartwarming to realize that TEDxYouthInspire was not only inspiring to the attendees but to the speakers as well. What remains is how to translate this positive outflow of youthful energy into concrete action.
TEDxYouthInspire experience through the lens of speakers
TEDxYouthInspire took a unique approach to celebrating young African achievers, motivating their peers in the process. While participants were inspired by the speeches delivered in this youth-to-youth forum, our young speakers experienced special feelings going through this ground-breaking event. To share exactly what these feelings were, Shirley Osei-Mensah, Yawa Hansen-Quao and Aboyeji E Iyinoluwa walked us through their TEDxYouthInspire journey.
Shirley Osei-Mensah, Student, blogger and Internet entrepreneur
I decided to speak at TEDxYouthInspire 2010 because I wanted to share my experiences in life and what I learned with young people like me and the whole world as a whole, to inspire them in living their lives.
I think the whole TEDxYouthInspire 2010 event was a great success and it was very inspiring and motivating.
Yawa-Hansen-Quao, Social activist and travel professional
It was a great honor for me to have been invited to speak at TEDxYouthInspire. I chose to speak on the topic “Redefining Empowerment” because I believe there needs to be more mainstream discussion on how BOTH genders need to change in order to see a future with fewer divorces, more successful female leaders & confident, responsible men etc. To me, the solution is easy; we need to help men and women build confidence, enhance skills and foster positive relationships.
Participating was definitely worthwhile and I would have loved more conversation/discussion time. TEDxYouthInspire was proof positive that there does exist a pool of vibrant young Africans whose voices should be heard.
For the future, we should remain in contact and perhaps meet periodically to share more ideas “worth spreading” and catch up on the progress of our individual initiatives.
Aboyeji E Iyinoluwa, Student leader and writer
I had a slightly different experience from everyone else because I was “virtually present”. It was about 5 am on the east coast and I must admit, I did nod a little but altogether it was very good from what I saw.
At first, I thought I would not have much to say but then I decided to use the opportunity to out a project I had been working on concerning entrepreneurship education and higher education.
It would have been great to be physically present. Pre-recorded videos are all good but they don’t make for the best TED talks.
All in all, I am glad that distance did not prevent me from connecting with all the wonderful people.
All in all, it is interesting and heartwarming to realize that TEDxYouthInspire was not only inspiring to the attendees but to the speakers as well. What remains is how to translate this positive outflow of youthful energy into concrete action.