TED for Teens at DLRC

Our facilitators Aman Sir and Prathamesh Sir taking the lead

TED for Teens at DLRC, an initiative started by our facilitators Aman Sir and Prathamesh Sir, is a platform for students of Grades 9 to 12 to take to the stage and give a 20-minute talk about their passions, issues that bother them or anything they find fascinating. Inspired by TEDx, a programme where experts are invited to discuss global issues, TED for Teens aims at instilling confidence, sharing ideas and experiences, and providing exposure to the student community.

The initiative started out with our facilitators speaking to all of us regarding their interests, from Mathematics and History to Indian intelligence agencies — covering a wide variety of topics as well as setting an example for what students can discuss when they deliver their talk. Although students initially needed some encouragement to volunteer, they have now started eagerly stepping up on their own. What started out as a mere idea last June has now turned into an integral part of our Thursday mornings. In the past year, students have explored themes ranging from veganism and hierarchy systems to fashion trends.

TED for Teens gives students the opportunity to deep dive into a topic of choice, encouraging them to research, learn, and expand their knowledge. It not only allows them to share these insights with a wider audience but also promotes collaboration and connection. By exploring subjects they are passionate about, students can bond with others who share similar interests and even team up like Aarya, Ishanvi and Tista of Grade 11 did, to deliver talks together.

For instance, Aarya who loves reading about the history of the 20th century and politics said, “I enjoyed looking into how Hitler managed to maintain power for 11 years, the voluntary and involuntary techniques he used, and how he gained people’s acceptance instead of being overthrown.” While listening to them, I realised that I had learned at least 10 new things about history and political movements that I hadn’t known before. Aarya added that their biggest challenge was dividing the topic equally within the team and making sure everyone stayed within the time limit. She hopes that others also choose to delve into topics they’re passionate about and feel inspired to share their interests with the rest of the community.

Aarya and Anushka giving their talk

TED for Teens provides a platform to speakers to spread awareness, helping them convey their message to students outside their own classroom. Asmi, a Grade 10 student, shared her family’s journey of coming to terms with her twin sister’s autism and the many stages they went through to understand and accept it.

Aadya and Tista from Grade 11 talked about Social Adda, an initiative started by Dr. Supriya Joshi, to give new and unique experiences to children with disabilities every month. Aadya shared that they chose to speak about this cause because it is close to their hearts. “Having been part of the journey since Day 1, we deeply value the community we have built. While awareness about children with disabilities has grown, we want to shift people’s mindsets to focus on what these children can achieve rather than what they cannot,” she said.

While preparing for the talk, their biggest challenge was ensuring that the audience remains engaged and interested throughout. To guarantee this, they included a few anecdotes and a plethora of photos. They also tried to approach the talk as if they were speaking to their friends and casually sharing their own experiences. Having volunteered myself, I could connect with many of the stories they shared.

TED for Teens taught them that authenticity and storytelling are important and powerful tools that help greatly in capturing an audience's attention.

Students listening to a TED talk at the amphitheatre

Over the past year, TED for Teens has grown into more than just a weekly event for public speaking; it is a safe space for students to enlighten and motivate others. Through TED for Teens, I discovered so many new things I might never have explored on my own. I also got to hear stories from people I had never spoken to before. This showed me how much we can learn from one another when we take the time to listen.

I hope that one day, I am able to give my own talk, share my own experiences and speak confidently in front of a larger audience, just like many of my peers.

By Abha Nivasarkar, Grade 11