First TEDxWindhoek for 2015 coming soon

The preparations for TEDxWindhoek 2015 are in full swing. After a successful inaugural event in March last year. Windhoek will experience an even bigger event on Friday 27 March 2015 under the theme ”Playing Beyond.” The theme implies to play beyond the norms; beyond consumption to innovation, beyond education to leadership, beyond natural resources to value addition, beyond raw materials to processing, beyond global growth to growth at home, beyond adventure tourism to eco-tourism and conservation, basically pushing far and beyond existing norms.

TEDxWindhoek 2015 promises to present innovative and sustainable approaches sparking deep discussion to stimulate transformative and innovative thinking. Apart from a rigorous direct curation of six speakers, speaking opportunities for 10 slots were opened to the public. More than 30 innovators, inventors, cutting-edge thinkers, scientists, artists and change seekers submitted their ideas which they deem worth spreading. In total 16 speakers and 3 performers will take on the TEDxWindhoek platform to spread their ideas to the local community, then to the continent and to a global audience at large. TEDxWindhoek’s first set of speakers for 2015 are: Marie-Jeanne Muhoza Ndimbira – Development, Job Amupanda – Activism, Tshuutheni Emvula -T echnology, Sam Shivute – Leadership, Hugh Ellis – Education, Zodidi Jewel Gaseb – Culture, Daisry Mathews – Business, Bruno Nebe – Conservation, Sepo Lamaswala Haihambo – Activism, Michael Amey – Innovation, Michael Linke – Development, Tanya Stroh, Jerry Muadinohamba, and Tanya Daringo. The talks will be followed by an African ballet performance by Tuli Shityuwete. TEDxWindhoek is made possible through a licence by TED, a US non-profit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading and is organized by a group of 15 dedicated volunteers who believe in the power of ideas. Licensee/Curator Alisa Amupolo explained,“Windhoek is among the fastest growing cities on the continent. As a capital city, it remains a centre of attraction filled with a hub of ideas.  An inflow of talent and human capital from all walks of life is flocking to the centre continuously, bringing a unique perspective to the development value chain in our country. It is once again our desire to pursue and harness the potential of those change-makers who are shaping eco-systems within their disciplines by providing a platform for their ideas to be heard.” “TEDxWindhoek is a globally reaching event. Staging such an event locally can not be done without partners and sponsors. TEDxWindhoek is offering opportunities to leverage sustainable ideas that help create a better future. We sincerely invite companies aspiring to serve as TEDxWindhoek partners to explore this opportunity,” said co-organiser, Lelanie Basson.  The remaining two speakers and two performers will be announced in the coming weeks. Speakers will undergo individual and group coaching to maximize their potential to spread their ideas. Limited tickets will be available for sale commencing end of next week from any Computicket outlet nationwide as well as online.  Tickets come with a hefty price tag, N$700 per delegate but the organisers argue this is required to be able to spread the TED experience, saying “although the event is not for profit and is hosted with an aim of merely covering costs, the organizing committee deemed it important to ensure the youth also gets the opportunity to attend this inspiring event.  As a result a limited amount of discounted student tickets will be made available at a cost of N$200 per person. Students will be required to provide proof of student identification and will only be permitted to purchase one ticket per person.”