On September 20 the global event TEDxChange was organized by TED and the Gates Foundation. In Amsterdam, a remarkable group of individuals joined to watch the live TEDxChange Webcast from NewYork together, that featured speakers like Melinda Gates, Graça Machel and Hans Rosling. The 100 guests then listened to eight people who travelled to Amsterdam to present their work in Africa during an interactive dinner. What followed was a transformation of “ideas worth spreading” to… “ideas worth doing”!
Tonee Ndungu, for example, described the remarkable Kenyan youngsters using social media without computer lessons: “they didn’t even drop out of school – they never went.” Pascal Katana takes Mother Teresa’s advice whole-heartedly and plans for the distant future: “if we fail to plan, then we are planning to fail.” Consolata Ndiayishimye was touched by the warm interest many people showed for her country Burundi and her ‘Diaspora’ project in particular. And Bill Liao must have one liner as his middle name. He taught us that we all suffer from care fatigue or, actually: “we’re paralyzed.” That’s because the environmental movement so far has used fear appeals to alter our behaviour. Bill, on the other hand, pleaded for positivity, proposing we all go to other speakers’ tables. Since 20 September, the TEDspeakers have been busy! Some have already achieved a great deal with your help.
Arjan Erkel of ”Malaria No More” reports that since the TEDxChange event, a group of at least 40 enthusiastic people gathered together to make our fight against Malaria a serious one. Boldewijn Sloet of Barefoot Power says, ”It’s crazy how excited people are about the work we are doing. Every single day since TEDxChange, I have received offers for help, people applying for jobs or inquiring about other possibilities to get involved in our business.”.
For other speakers, the critical questions were much-needed food for thought and helped sharpen their mindsets. On the TEDxChange website we try to keep up with their progress. And there’s more!
A message from Melinda Gates
TEDxChange in NewYork was organized by the Gates Foundation together with TED Conferences. Our local gathering however did not stay unnoticed! Melinda Gates let us know how much she liked our motto “Ideas Worth Doing”. She even recorded a special video message for TEDxAmsterdam.
Marlon Parker at TEDxAmsterdam
As promised in September, one speaker of TEDxChange was invited to share his thoughts on the stage of TEDxAmsterdam event on 30 November. As part of Jim Stolze’s closing words on ”Ideas worth doing” Marlon Parker shared his story, which received a warm reception by all.
A big thanks to the whole TEDxChange team for their ”Ideas worth doing”!
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