
I’d like to start with one image and you guys have to help me out a bit what are
guys have to help me out a bit what are
guys have to help me out a bit what are the common or what is the common factor
the common or what is the common factor
the common or what is the common factor in this image can anyone tell me I can’t
in this image can anyone tell me I can’t
in this image can anyone tell me I can’t see anyone so shout it out humans people
see anyone so shout it out humans people
see anyone so shout it out humans people true but the common factor in this image
true but the common factor in this image
true but the common factor in this image is that they all share one thing more
is that they all share one thing more
is that they all share one thing more prominently than anything else and that
prominently than anything else and that
prominently than anything else and that is their passion for technology I wanted
is their passion for technology I wanted
is their passion for technology I wanted to showcase the many faces that we have
to showcase the many faces that we have
to showcase the many faces that we have around the globe some of these faces
around the globe some of these faces
around the globe some of these faces have actually paved the way for
have actually paved the way for
have actually paved the way for technology to blossom in their
technology to blossom in their
technology to blossom in their communities others have actually
communities others have actually
communities others have actually revolutionized it we usually have
revolutionized it we usually have
revolutionized it we usually have prejudices and perceptions in which we
prejudices and perceptions in which we
prejudices and perceptions in which we actually preference a certain gender or
actually preference a certain gender or
actually preference a certain gender or race and this is what I would like to
race and this is what I would like to
race and this is what I would like to talk about I’d like to talk about
talk about I’d like to talk about
talk about I’d like to talk about inclusion and diversity around the globe
first Who am I accept this beautiful
first Who am I accept this beautiful introduction that I won an award I
introduction that I won an award I
introduction that I won an award I decided to create with some other of my
decided to create with some other of my
decided to create with some other of my colleagues a foundation to help refugees
colleagues a foundation to help refugees
colleagues a foundation to help refugees but I actually have a story that has
but I actually have a story that has
but I actually have a story that has shaped my present and also shapes my
shaped my present and also shapes my
shaped my present and also shapes my future and it has to do with the way I
future and it has to do with the way I
future and it has to do with the way I was born I was born as a refugee as a
was born I was born as a refugee as a
was born I was born as a refugee as a Kurdish refugee at 5 years of age I
Kurdish refugee at 5 years of age I
Kurdish refugee at 5 years of age I finally landed in Sweden there’s a long
finally landed in Sweden there’s a long
finally landed in Sweden there’s a long road when I came to Sweden a few years
road when I came to Sweden a few years
road when I came to Sweden a few years later I reached my teenage years and my
later I reached my teenage years and my
later I reached my teenage years and my passion for computer science woke up I
passion for computer science woke up I
passion for computer science woke up I thought I’d conquer it and I started a
thought I’d conquer it and I started a
thought I’d conquer it and I started a course I pretty much sucked at it
course I pretty much sucked at it
course I pretty much sucked at it and then I decided that I don’t think
and then I decided that I don’t think
and then I decided that I don’t think this is really my thing
this is really my thing
this is really my thing so I moved on fast forward a few years
so I moved on fast forward a few years
so I moved on fast forward a few years Tranmere of the matrix I don’t know if
Tranmere of the matrix I don’t know if
Tranmere of the matrix I don’t know if you guys remember that movie that was
you guys remember that movie that was
you guys remember that movie that was the best movie ever and I walked out of
the best movie ever and I walked out of
the best movie ever and I walked out of there thinking I’m gonna do that that
there thinking I’m gonna do that that
there thinking I’m gonna do that that special effect I’m gonna do that and I
special effect I’m gonna do that and I
special effect I’m gonna do that and I started to studying graphic design and
started to studying graphic design and
started to studying graphic design and special effects the whole purpose of
special effects the whole purpose of
special effects the whole purpose of that course was to learn how to do a
that course was to learn how to do a
that course was to learn how to do a laser sword online really didn’t go very
laser sword online really didn’t go very
laser sword online really didn’t go very well there either so fast forward
well there either so fast forward
well there either so fast forward graduated I left the country I ended up
graduated I left the country I ended up
graduated I left the country I ended up in the MENA region Middle East
in the MENA region Middle East
in the MENA region Middle East I spent approximately roughly around ten
I spent approximately roughly around ten
I spent approximately roughly around ten years traveling around the world ending
years traveling around the world ending
years traveling around the world ending up mostly in honeymoon destinations of
up mostly in honeymoon destinations of
up mostly in honeymoon destinations of conflict zones and that was also to find
conflict zones and that was also to find
conflict zones and that was also to find myself find my history and understand
myself find my history and understand
myself find my history and understand what’s happening in that region why did
what’s happening in that region why did
what’s happening in that region why did we leave it in the first place I found a
we leave it in the first place I found a
we leave it in the first place I found a lot of things among them was to
lot of things among them was to
lot of things among them was to understand inequality inequalities are
understand inequality inequalities are
understand inequality inequalities are one of the driving forces in insecurity
one of the driving forces in insecurity
one of the driving forces in insecurity around the globe it also shapes
around the globe it also shapes
around the globe it also shapes prejudices and perceptions of other
prejudices and perceptions of other
prejudices and perceptions of other countries outside our sphere so I’d like
countries outside our sphere so I’d like
countries outside our sphere so I’d like to take up a few of these examples of
to take up a few of these examples of
to take up a few of these examples of what countries that we perceive look
what countries that we perceive look
what countries that we perceive look like and what realities they have to
like and what realities they have to
like and what realities they have to start off with decided to land in Africa
start off with decided to land in Africa
start off with decided to land in Africa and choose Kenya as much as the first
and choose Kenya as much as the first
and choose Kenya as much as the first image shows a country that is tarnished
image shows a country that is tarnished
image shows a country that is tarnished by poverty and under development it
by poverty and under development it
by poverty and under development it actually also has a ravishing
actually also has a ravishing
actually also has a ravishing development it is one of the fastest
development it is one of the fastest
development it is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa and it’s
growing economies in Africa and it’s
growing economies in Africa and it’s rapidly growing in terms of business and
rapidly growing in terms of business and
rapidly growing in terms of business and tech another example of areas where we
tech another example of areas where we
tech another example of areas where we know less about Fran’s dance Indonesia
know less about Fran’s dance Indonesia
know less about Fran’s dance Indonesia history tells us it has been tarnished
history tells us it has been tarnished
history tells us it has been tarnished by Civil War
by Civil War
by Civil War ethnic cleansing and in Justices with an
ethnic cleansing and in Justices with an
ethnic cleansing and in Justices with an agriculture
agriculture
agriculture that is commonly known for
that is commonly known for
that is commonly known for underdeveloped countries but there’s
underdeveloped countries but there’s
underdeveloped countries but there’s also another reality to it
also another reality to it
also another reality to it and that is the reality of being one of
and that is the reality of being one of
and that is the reality of being one of the largest growing tech hubs in the
the largest growing tech hubs in the
the largest growing tech hubs in the world for startups it has a stronger
world for startups it has a stronger
world for startups it has a stronger economy than it had 20 years ago and it
economy than it had 20 years ago and it
economy than it had 20 years ago and it keeps rising
keeps rising
keeps rising the third example we move on to a Middle
the third example we move on to a Middle
the third example we move on to a Middle East Iran one of the u.s. favorite
East Iran one of the u.s. favorite
East Iran one of the u.s. favorite subjects and Israel’s as well we usually
subjects and Israel’s as well we usually
subjects and Israel’s as well we usually see less and less about the countries
see less and less about the countries
see less and less about the countries boom but we hear more and more about the
boom but we hear more and more about the
boom but we hear more and more about the under development areas of it while it
under development areas of it while it
under development areas of it while it has that reality it also has another
has that reality it also has another
has that reality it also has another reality it is one of the most intense
reality it is one of the most intense
reality it is one of the most intense research countries in the world with
research countries in the world with
research countries in the world with science being one of the primary goals
science being one of the primary goals
science being one of the primary goals in addition to that it has a growing and
in addition to that it has a growing and
in addition to that it has a growing and a very strong export industry of
a very strong export industry of
a very strong export industry of commodities so why am i bringing these
commodities so why am i bringing these
commodities so why am i bringing these examples up of countries to address
examples up of countries to address
examples up of countries to address perceptions we always believe that we
perceptions we always believe that we
perceptions we always believe that we know that innovation technology
know that innovation technology
know that innovation technology education grows the best in developed
education grows the best in developed
education grows the best in developed areas but we underestimate the
areas but we underestimate the
areas but we underestimate the developing country strengths and
developing country strengths and
developing country strengths and experiences therefore I’d like to take
experiences therefore I’d like to take
experiences therefore I’d like to take three examples of countries in those
three examples of countries in those
three examples of countries in those regions in which local initiatives and
regions in which local initiatives and
regions in which local initiatives and local needs and problems and challenges
local needs and problems and challenges
local needs and problems and challenges have been addressed in a very
have been addressed in a very
have been addressed in a very interesting way allow me to introduce to
interesting way allow me to introduce to
interesting way allow me to introduce to you a project out of Ghana Ghana had a
you a project out of Ghana Ghana had a
you a project out of Ghana Ghana had a challenge after the Ebola virus in which
challenge after the Ebola virus in which
challenge after the Ebola virus in which lack of access to health care and
lack of access to health care and
lack of access to health care and information to recognize symptoms caused
information to recognize symptoms caused
information to recognize symptoms caused a lot of loss of lives this led to a
a lot of loss of lives this led to a
a lot of loss of lives this led to a crew of people who decided to do
crew of people who decided to do
crew of people who decided to do something about it find an alternative
something about it find an alternative
something about it find an alternative way there is a challenge with
way there is a challenge with
way there is a challenge with stigmatization of STDs in Africa
stigmatization of STDs in Africa
stigmatization of STDs in Africa specifically in Ghana in which fear of
specifically in Ghana in which fear of
specifically in Ghana in which fear of coming out and
coming out and
coming out and asking for help makes a lot of people to
asking for help makes a lot of people to
asking for help makes a lot of people to stay at home in addition to poverty
stay at home in addition to poverty
stay at home in addition to poverty which makes them not being able to
which makes them not being able to
which makes them not being able to access health care the solution one of
access health care the solution one of
access health care the solution one of them was to create an anonymous way of
them was to create an anonymous way of
them was to create an anonymous way of avoiding also taking the step to a
avoiding also taking the step to a
avoiding also taking the step to a doctor by using mobile technology a very
doctor by using mobile technology a very
doctor by using mobile technology a very interesting guy by the name of Randolph
interesting guy by the name of Randolph
interesting guy by the name of Randolph came up with an app called bisa it’s the
came up with an app called bisa it’s the
came up with an app called bisa it’s the it’s the the name of basically
it’s the the name of basically
it’s the the name of basically definition of it is called asked by
definition of it is called asked by
definition of it is called asked by developing this app he also saw another
developing this app he also saw another
developing this app he also saw another challenge he created a small team of
challenge he created a small team of
challenge he created a small team of innovative students and used basically
innovative students and used basically
innovative students and used basically an entrepreneurial step spirit in order
an entrepreneurial step spirit in order
an entrepreneurial step spirit in order to create an app that is accessible to
to create an app that is accessible to
to create an app that is accessible to everyone in Ghana and also neighboring
everyone in Ghana and also neighboring
everyone in Ghana and also neighboring countries where they can actually have
countries where they can actually have
countries where they can actually have direct contact with a medical
direct contact with a medical
direct contact with a medical practitioner to address their symptoms
practitioner to address their symptoms
practitioner to address their symptoms and diagnosis leaving Ghana and going
and diagnosis leaving Ghana and going
and diagnosis leaving Ghana and going over to Bangladesh Bangladesh has a big
over to Bangladesh Bangladesh has a big
over to Bangladesh Bangladesh has a big problem and a challenge of browning over
problem and a challenge of browning over
problem and a challenge of browning over 20,000 people every year drown due to
20,000 people every year drown due to
20,000 people every year drown due to lack of swimming fifty children every
lack of swimming fifty children every
lack of swimming fifty children every day drown because they cannot swim local
day drown because they cannot swim local
day drown because they cannot swim local NGOs tried their best by teaching out
NGOs tried their best by teaching out
NGOs tried their best by teaching out how to swim wasn’t enough so a team of
how to swim wasn’t enough so a team of
how to swim wasn’t enough so a team of five innovative students came up with
five innovative students came up with
five innovative students came up with another concept if we can’t teach them
another concept if we can’t teach them
another concept if we can’t teach them to swim let us at least equip them and
to swim let us at least equip them and
to swim let us at least equip them and they came up with a very very simple
they came up with a very very simple
they came up with a very very simple innovative solution simple wristband a
innovative solution simple wristband a
innovative solution simple wristband a balloon and a great thinking the third
balloon and a great thinking the third
balloon and a great thinking the third project came out of Jordan the refugee
project came out of Jordan the refugee
project came out of Jordan the refugee crisis of Syrian war a lot of victims
crisis of Syrian war a lot of victims
crisis of Syrian war a lot of victims lost their limbs had limited or
lost their limbs had limited or
lost their limbs had limited or basically zero access to health care and
basically zero access to health care and
basically zero access to health care and prosthetic prosthetic limbs due to the
prosthetic prosthetic limbs due to the
prosthetic prosthetic limbs due to the cost and the distance to healthcare
cost and the distance to healthcare
cost and the distance to healthcare facilities
facilities
facilities a guy called awesome husna was a former
a guy called awesome husna was a former
a guy called awesome husna was a former paramedic volunteer they decided to help
paramedic volunteer they decided to help
paramedic volunteer they decided to help his fellow citizens but lost his leg
his fellow citizens but lost his leg
his fellow citizens but lost his leg along the way he ended up in Jordan met
along the way he ended up in Jordan met
along the way he ended up in Jordan met a team of well one heck of a Kickstarter
a team of well one heck of a Kickstarter
a team of well one heck of a Kickstarter project and collaborated with them on
project and collaborated with them on
project and collaborated with them on how to solve this problem the cost of
how to solve this problem the cost of
how to solve this problem the cost of one piece of the the prosthetics usually
one piece of the the prosthetics usually
one piece of the the prosthetics usually lies around $35 they managed to reduce
lies around $35 they managed to reduce
lies around $35 they managed to reduce it with a 3d technology for $1 so they
it with a 3d technology for $1 so they
it with a 3d technology for $1 so they solved affordable solutions with very
solved affordable solutions with very
solved affordable solutions with very fast learning curve
fast learning curve
fast learning curve he actually programmed his own leg
he actually programmed his own leg
he actually programmed his own leg within three days of ending up there and
within three days of ending up there and
within three days of ending up there and started spreading the word spreading the
started spreading the word spreading the
started spreading the word spreading the knowledge to others he’s in Berlin now
knowledge to others he’s in Berlin now
knowledge to others he’s in Berlin now having a good life teaching out and
having a good life teaching out and
having a good life teaching out and actually also then attended a TEDx talk
so why am I talking about these projects
so why am I talking about these projects and trying to highlight the need of
and trying to highlight the need of
and trying to highlight the need of seeing the diversity out there
seeing the diversity out there
seeing the diversity out there the innovative thinking it’s because in
the innovative thinking it’s because in
the innovative thinking it’s because in some of these countries with all the
some of these countries with all the
some of these countries with all the limitations and all the restrictions and
limitations and all the restrictions and
limitations and all the restrictions and all the lack of resources there’s an
all the lack of resources there’s an
all the lack of resources there’s an incredible willpower and there is an
incredible willpower and there is an
incredible willpower and there is an incredible drive to create something to
incredible drive to create something to
incredible drive to create something to solve local problems what I’m trying to
solve local problems what I’m trying to
solve local problems what I’m trying to do is not only show the diversity but it
do is not only show the diversity but it
do is not only show the diversity but it also brings us back to why I ended up
also brings us back to why I ended up
also brings us back to why I ended up here today a year ago exactly I was part
here today a year ago exactly I was part
here today a year ago exactly I was part of a large team that helped thousands of
of a large team that helped thousands of
of a large team that helped thousands of thousands of thousands of refugees
thousands of thousands of refugees
thousands of thousands of refugees within my own team the volunteer crew we
within my own team the volunteer crew we
within my own team the volunteer crew we had diversity we used each and every
had diversity we used each and every
had diversity we used each and every single person’s competence they were
single person’s competence they were
single person’s competence they were refugees themselves there were Swedish
refugees themselves there were Swedish
refugees themselves there were Swedish citizens and they came from all walks of
citizens and they came from all walks of
citizens and they came from all walks of life but we also noticed one thing how
life but we also noticed one thing how
life but we also noticed one thing how technology became a survival tool it
technology became a survival tool it
technology became a survival tool it helped them to find their way to avoid
helped them to find their way to avoid
helped them to find their way to avoid the gates to avoid the border controls
the gates to avoid the border controls
the gates to avoid the border controls and to avoid danger and reach sanctuary
and to avoid danger and reach sanctuary
and to avoid danger and reach sanctuary this goes back to
this goes back to
this goes back to the next subject the world as we see it
the next subject the world as we see it
the next subject the world as we see it is not fair and it’s not really just and
is not fair and it’s not really just and
is not fair and it’s not really just and it’s definitely not equal we are bound
it’s definitely not equal we are bound
it’s definitely not equal we are bound by geographical borders that are not
by geographical borders that are not
by geographical borders that are not natural
natural
natural we’re also seeing that some passports
we’re also seeing that some passports
we’re also seeing that some passports are more valued than other passports
are more valued than other passports
are more valued than other passports some races are more privileged than
some races are more privileged than
some races are more privileged than others when you look at the internet you
others when you look at the internet you
others when you look at the internet you don’t see any geographical borders you
don’t see any geographical borders you
don’t see any geographical borders you see a lot of potential this is the
see a lot of potential this is the
see a lot of potential this is the potential I would like to hire highlight
potential I would like to hire highlight
potential I would like to hire highlight if you have all these opportunities and
if you have all these opportunities and
if you have all these opportunities and technology is unlimited my interest in
technology is unlimited my interest in
technology is unlimited my interest in seeing the technology being used to way
seeing the technology being used to way
seeing the technology being used to way exchange of ideas exchange of
exchange of ideas exchange of
exchange of ideas exchange of experiences and exchange of
experiences and exchange of
experiences and exchange of collaboration it doesn’t take much to
collaboration it doesn’t take much to
collaboration it doesn’t take much to take that one step forward and try to
take that one step forward and try to
take that one step forward and try to explore the opportunities out there you
explore the opportunities out there you
explore the opportunities out there you have no borders and you have no limits
have no borders and you have no limits
have no borders and you have no limits so I’d like to leave you with a few
so I’d like to leave you with a few
so I’d like to leave you with a few closing words from a favorite quote by
closing words from a favorite quote by
closing words from a favorite quote by dr. Martin Luther King you all know this
dr. Martin Luther King you all know this
dr. Martin Luther King you all know this one I have a dream I’d like to go take
one I have a dream I’d like to go take
one I have a dream I’d like to go take it a bit further and say I might be able
it a bit further and say I might be able
it a bit further and say I might be able to do it but together we can get one
to do it but together we can get one
to do it but together we can get one step closer and making it thank you for
step closer and making it thank you for
step closer and making it thank you for me
”
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