TEDxSydney Youth, in collaboration with presenting partner the University of Sydney, returned again this year to Parramatta’s Riverside Theatres. With the theme CTRL > SHIFT, speakers and multidisciplinary performers addressed a range of topics, including environmental action, educational and social equity, groundbreaking biotechnology, and much more.
But it isn’t just TEDxSydney Youth speakers who are paving the way for future change – youth across Australia, everywhere, are making an impact. Here are four University of Sydney graduates and current students, whose innovative ideas and work are challenging cultural stigmas and taking steps towards social equality.
Meet the Young Minds
Umar: Challenging Disability Stigma through Social Media
Born in Saudi Arabia, Umar was initially refused entry to school because he was born with shortened arms and missing parts in his hands. He is now completing a PhD at the University of Sydney through the Indonesian Government’s Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP). His experience in Australia has been eye-opening; for the first time, he says, there are no “judgmental eyes” upon him when he leaves the house.
Umar is a passionate activist for disability rights, campaigning for an inclusive society in his country, Indonesia. Studying with the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, his focus is on social media’s capacity to raise awareness about disability, reaching large audiences with accurate and engaging content.
The unwavering support of Umar’s parents as well as his experience of injustice have strengthened his resolve as he works towards his PhD and a brighter future for people with a disability.
Rameen: Renewable Energy for Social Equality
Growing up in Lakemba, and with family roots in Pakistan, Rameen has a vision for an equitable resource sector at home and around the world.
As our climate changes and temperatures rise, it is amplifying an existing divide between those who have resources and those who do not. For Rameen, this is a fact that hits close to home. “Growing up, there were often struggles to pay the power bill, water bill or rent during increasingly hot summers.”
Rameen’s family’s experiences of energy and climate motivated her to better understand how technology could be used as a tool for social equity.
Now nine years on, Rameen – an empowered and determined Engineering and Law graduate – intends to one day bring her expertise in energy equity, justice and innovation to Australia’s energy policies.
Elysee Dubois and Kyana Chan: Beauty Business Innovation
Taking first place in the prestigious University of Sydney biannual start-up accelerator, Elysee Dubois and Kyana Chan harnessed ingenuity and leadership to create Bella.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Commerce and Advanced Studies at the University of Sydney’s School of Business, Dubois and Chan are looking to beat the odds in a start-up scene largely dominated by men.
“The idea was borne from trying to solve a mutual, regular frustration of finding and booking at trustworthy beauty salons,” Chan said.
“About 80% of salons find marketing burdensome and struggle to reach new customers or fill appointments, leading to lost revenue. On the flip side, 62% of women have a hard time finding trustworthy salons that deliver quality services. Bella is here to bridge that gap. We’re building a marketplace mobile application that uses a social-first model to digitise word-of-mouth recommendations.” Said Dubois.
“Bella was born out of a desire to solve a problem Kyana and I were facing in our own lives as busy young women juggling corporate roles. Interested in entrepreneurship, we knew we wanted to step away from the corporate world and create something with real impact. Our journey began when we started chatting about our shared frustrations.”
Coming of age in a world with so much change and uncertainty, the next generation are redefining the future.
Contributions by Ann Bain.
