Youth, Ideas and Business, the keys of change! | Hezha Mohammed | TEDxDuhok

has the society ever made you feel like

has the society ever made you feel like your dreams are too big just because

your dreams are too big just because

your dreams are too big just because your youth or that you should limit your

your youth or that you should limit your

your youth or that you should limit your dreams and focus more in your family

dreams and focus more in your family

dreams and focus more in your family just because they’re a female well

just because they’re a female well

just because they’re a female well that’s an everyday routine for young

that’s an everyday routine for young

that’s an everyday routine for young people and especially young women

people and especially young women

people and especially young women working very hard to make a positive

working very hard to make a positive

working very hard to make a positive change in the world and I can totally

change in the world and I can totally

change in the world and I can totally relate

relate

relate my name is heheh I am a social

my name is heheh I am a social

my name is heheh I am a social entrepreneur and international NGO

entrepreneur and international NGO

entrepreneur and international NGO consultant I also have the privilege to

consultant I also have the privilege to

consultant I also have the privilege to be a mentor for many youth around the

be a mentor for many youth around the

be a mentor for many youth around the world establish their own social

world establish their own social

world establish their own social enterprises and confirm their ideas into

enterprises and confirm their ideas into

enterprises and confirm their ideas into projects that will serve their

projects that will serve their

projects that will serve their communities most recently I was a peer

communities most recently I was a peer

communities most recently I was a peer mentor at the International Youth

mentor at the International Youth

mentor at the International Youth Assembly at the United Nations

Assembly at the United Nations

Assembly at the United Nations headquarters where I had the privilege

headquarters where I had the privilege

headquarters where I had the privilege to mentor 30 young leaders from 10

to mentor 30 young leaders from 10

to mentor 30 young leaders from 10 different countries I have been in this

different countries I have been in this

different countries I have been in this field for more than nine years working

field for more than nine years working

field for more than nine years working very hard to build a carrier that not

very hard to build a carrier that not

very hard to build a carrier that not only satisfies my ambitions but also

only satisfies my ambitions but also

only satisfies my ambitions but also gives back to the community

gives back to the community

gives back to the community I’ve been blessed with many

I’ve been blessed with many

I’ve been blessed with many international and local achievements and

international and local achievements and

international and local achievements and I’ve built very wide network social and

I’ve built very wide network social and

I’ve built very wide network social and professional network around the world

professional network around the world

professional network around the world people ask me a lot of questions on

people ask me a lot of questions on

people ask me a lot of questions on daily basis and in Curtis and let me

daily basis and in Curtis and let me

daily basis and in Curtis and let me tell you the most frequent ask that

tell you the most frequent ask that

tell you the most frequent ask that people ask me here most frequent ask

people ask me here most frequent ask

people ask me here most frequent ask questions and it is do you know how to

questions and it is do you know how to

questions and it is do you know how to cook if you’re curious yes I do know how

cook if you’re curious yes I do know how

cook if you’re curious yes I do know how to cook and I cook very well now we will

to cook and I cook very well now we will

to cook and I cook very well now we will not go into that discussion of how that

not go into that discussion of how that

not go into that discussion of how that question makes me feel and that gender

question makes me feel and that gender

question makes me feel and that gender discrimination that I have to deal with

discrimination that I have to deal with

discrimination that I have to deal with every single day I’m very happy to be

every single day I’m very happy to be

every single day I’m very happy to be here in the beautiful city of the hook

here in the beautiful city of the hook

here in the beautiful city of the hook for the first time in 21 years and today

for the first time in 21 years and today

for the first time in 21 years and today we will talk about social

we will talk about social

we will talk about social entrepreneurship the important on

entrepreneurship the important on

entrepreneurship the important on investing in useless products how you

investing in useless products how you

investing in useless products how you government can support this people also

government can support this people also

government can support this people also asked me why I do this while I have an

asked me why I do this while I have an

asked me why I do this while I have an engineering degree since I have a

engineering degree since I have a

engineering degree since I have a bachelor in the degree in engineering

bachelor in the degree in engineering

bachelor in the degree in engineering and how I manage to all they do all

and how I manage to all they do all

and how I manage to all they do all these activities have a full-time job

these activities have a full-time job

these activities have a full-time job and travel the world I basically do what

and travel the world I basically do what

and travel the world I basically do what I love for living I don’t

I love for living I don’t

I love for living I don’t a specific answer to be honest maybe

a specific answer to be honest maybe

a specific answer to be honest maybe it’s the power to be able to impact the

it’s the power to be able to impact the

it’s the power to be able to impact the global community and inspire others with

global community and inspire others with

global community and inspire others with my little success stories but I cannot

my little success stories but I cannot

my little success stories but I cannot imagine myself doing anything else

imagine myself doing anything else

imagine myself doing anything else what’s best about being a social

what’s best about being a social

what’s best about being a social entrepreneur and a young leader is that

entrepreneur and a young leader is that

entrepreneur and a young leader is that you do not necessarily need a university

you do not necessarily need a university

you do not necessarily need a university degree to become one which is very

degree to become one which is very

degree to become one which is very convenient for us in Krita sense since

convenient for us in Krita sense since

convenient for us in Krita sense since we do not get to study what we want it’s

we do not get to study what we want it’s

we do not get to study what we want it’s all based on our score and what our

all based on our score and what our

all based on our score and what our family wants us to be now this is not to

family wants us to be now this is not to

family wants us to be now this is not to discourage education please don’t get me

discourage education please don’t get me

discourage education please don’t get me wrong it is all it is only to encourage

wrong it is all it is only to encourage

wrong it is all it is only to encourage us that we can start our initiatives any

us that we can start our initiatives any

us that we can start our initiatives any time in our lives today’s youth

time in our lives today’s youth

time in our lives today’s youth population is the largest the world has

population is the largest the world has

population is the largest the world has ever witnessed and in the words of Ban

ever witnessed and in the words of Ban

ever witnessed and in the words of Ban ki-moon we’re the very first generation

ki-moon we’re the very first generation

ki-moon we’re the very first generation that can add poverty and the very last

that can add poverty and the very last

that can add poverty and the very last to end climate change now this is a huge

to end climate change now this is a huge

to end climate change now this is a huge responsibility with half of the world

responsibility with half of the world

responsibility with half of the world being under the age of 30 the time to

being under the age of 30 the time to

being under the age of 30 the time to act now and with all the challenges that

act now and with all the challenges that

act now and with all the challenges that are facing the global community and

are facing the global community and

are facing the global community and Kurdistan we have to take an action I

Kurdistan we have to take an action I

Kurdistan we have to take an action I would like to introduce something to you

would like to introduce something to you

would like to introduce something to you do you know what this is please raise

do you know what this is please raise

do you know what this is please raise your hand if you know what this is okay

your hand if you know what this is okay

your hand if you know what this is okay we have a few that knows this is the 17

we have a few that knows this is the 17

we have a few that knows this is the 17 sustainable development goals the 2030

sustainable development goals the 2030

sustainable development goals the 2030 agenda this is a plan of action for

agenda this is a plan of action for

agenda this is a plan of action for people prosperity and planet it also

people prosperity and planet it also

people prosperity and planet it also seeks to strengthen the universal peace

seeks to strengthen the universal peace

seeks to strengthen the universal peace on a larger freedom it’s recognized that

on a larger freedom it’s recognized that

on a larger freedom it’s recognized that eliminating poverty with all its forms

eliminating poverty with all its forms

eliminating poverty with all its forms and dimensions including extreme poverty

and dimensions including extreme poverty

and dimensions including extreme poverty is one of the biggest global challenges

is one of the biggest global challenges

is one of the biggest global challenges and an essential requirement for

and an essential requirement for

and an essential requirement for sustainable development goals all

sustainable development goals all

sustainable development goals all countries and stakeholders act in

countries and stakeholders act in

countries and stakeholders act in collaborative partnership will implement

collaborative partnership will implement

collaborative partnership will implement this plan it is resolved to free the

this plan it is resolved to free the

this plan it is resolved to free the human race from the tyranny of poverty

human race from the tyranny of poverty

human race from the tyranny of poverty and to want to secure and heal our

and to want to secure and heal our

and to want to secure and heal our planet

planet

planet the world is ready to take the bold and

the world is ready to take the bold and

the world is ready to take the bold and transformative steps needed to shift our

transformative steps needed to shift our

transformative steps needed to shift our world on to a sustainable and resilient

world on to a sustainable and resilient

world on to a sustainable and resilient path as Kurdish youth it’s our

path as Kurdish youth it’s our

path as Kurdish youth it’s our responsibility to join the world and

responsibility to join the world and

responsibility to join the world and work on the sustainable development

work on the sustainable development

work on the sustainable development goals and make sure that we live a world

goals and make sure that we live a world

goals and make sure that we live a world that’s better for our children and the

that’s better for our children and the

that’s better for our children and the generations to come

Youth also today are very lucky to have

Youth also today are very lucky to have various means of communication

various means of communication

various means of communication after all we’re the generation of

after all we’re the generation of

after all we’re the generation of technology at a glance of a button we

technology at a glance of a button we

technology at a glance of a button we can access a huge amount of informations

can access a huge amount of informations

can access a huge amount of informations around the world and resources do you

around the world and resources do you

around the world and resources do you realize how amazing that power is the

realize how amazing that power is the

realize how amazing that power is the previous generation did not have that

previous generation did not have that

previous generation did not have that option with a very first smart

option with a very first smart

option with a very first smart generation on this planet the referendum

generation on this planet the referendum

generation on this planet the referendum for independence is less than a month

for independence is less than a month

for independence is less than a month away it’s true that we have the dream to

away it’s true that we have the dream to

away it’s true that we have the dream to become independence but are we

become independence but are we

become independence but are we economically strong enough to maintain

economically strong enough to maintain

economically strong enough to maintain the status and this does not have to

the status and this does not have to

the status and this does not have to rely on oil alone we have to come up

rely on oil alone we have to come up

rely on oil alone we have to come up with innovative business and social

with innovative business and social

with innovative business and social models that are sustainable on a long

models that are sustainable on a long

models that are sustainable on a long run do we have enough human resources to

run do we have enough human resources to

run do we have enough human resources to run this country if we have enough for

run this country if we have enough for

run this country if we have enough for today do we have enough for tomorrow now

today do we have enough for tomorrow now

today do we have enough for tomorrow now it’s all not only the government’s

it’s all not only the government’s

it’s all not only the government’s responsibility to develop this country

responsibility to develop this country

responsibility to develop this country everyone has to contribute more than 70%

everyone has to contribute more than 70%

everyone has to contribute more than 70% of our population is under the age of 30

of our population is under the age of 30

of our population is under the age of 30 and this is not just in Kurdistan this

and this is not just in Kurdistan this

and this is not just in Kurdistan this is a global phenomenon and as Hillary

is a global phenomenon and as Hillary

is a global phenomenon and as Hillary Clinton’s was once said young people are

Clinton’s was once said young people are

Clinton’s was once said young people are at the heart of today’s strategic

at the heart of today’s strategic

at the heart of today’s strategic opportunities and challenges from

opportunities and challenges from

opportunities and challenges from rebuilding the global economy and come

rebuilding the global economy and come

rebuilding the global economy and come backed in violent extremism to building

backed in violent extremism to building

backed in violent extremism to building sustainable democracies I think we can

sustainable democracies I think we can

sustainable democracies I think we can overcome a lot of challenges through

overcome a lot of challenges through

overcome a lot of challenges through social enterprise ideas now for the ones

social enterprise ideas now for the ones

social enterprise ideas now for the ones of you who don’t know what a social

of you who don’t know what a social

of you who don’t know what a social enterprise is you basically make money

enterprise is you basically make money

enterprise is you basically make money while working on a good cause social

while working on a good cause social

while working on a good cause social enterprise is how we define create

enterprise is how we define create

enterprise is how we define create and maintain values differently now I

and maintain values differently now I

and maintain values differently now I know what you’re thinking young leaders

know what you’re thinking young leaders

know what you’re thinking young leaders youth in this room we have the ideas we

youth in this room we have the ideas we

youth in this room we have the ideas we have the potential but we need the

have the potential but we need the

have the potential but we need the support

support

support now the 2030 agenda is a call for action

now the 2030 agenda is a call for action

now the 2030 agenda is a call for action for everybody

for everybody

for everybody it calls for inclusion and partnership

it calls for inclusion and partnership

it calls for inclusion and partnership between individuals private sectors

between individuals private sectors

between individuals private sectors government and everyone is required to

government and everyone is required to

government and everyone is required to take an action now let’s start with

take an action now let’s start with

take an action now let’s start with business sector and allow me to give you

business sector and allow me to give you

business sector and allow me to give you some ideas of how you can do this raise

some ideas of how you can do this raise

some ideas of how you can do this raise your hand if you have ever heard of the

your hand if you have ever heard of the

your hand if you have ever heard of the resolution project okay

resolution project okay

resolution project okay nobody raise your hand if you have ever

nobody raise your hand if you have ever

nobody raise your hand if you have ever heard of university social ventures okay

heard of university social ventures okay

heard of university social ventures okay this next one is big you have must have

this next one is big you have must have

this next one is big you have must have heard of it have you ever heard of

heard of it have you ever heard of

heard of it have you ever heard of Google Ventures currently known as the

Google Ventures currently known as the

Google Ventures currently known as the GV Google Ventures provides seed venture

GV Google Ventures provides seed venture

GV Google Ventures provides seed venture and growth funding state funding stage

and growth funding state funding stage

and growth funding state funding stage funding the technology companies the

funding the technology companies the

funding the technology companies the firm operates independently from Google

firm operates independently from Google

firm operates independently from Google and takes financially driven investment

and takes financially driven investment

and takes financially driven investment decision they have invested in over 300

decision they have invested in over 300

decision they have invested in over 300 companies in the world including the

companies in the world including the

companies in the world including the very famous uber application that we all

very famous uber application that we all

very famous uber application that we all use when we travel big companies can

use when we travel big companies can

use when we travel big companies can start launching business and social

start launching business and social

start launching business and social ventures where you can invest very

ventures where you can invest very

ventures where you can invest very little money as state funding in

little money as state funding in

little money as state funding in innovative ideas that can eventually

innovative ideas that can eventually

innovative ideas that can eventually make millions of dollars in the future

make millions of dollars in the future

make millions of dollars in the future support environmental friendly ideas to

support environmental friendly ideas to

support environmental friendly ideas to secure our planet and make her design

secure our planet and make her design

secure our planet and make her design clean and green again support new health

clean and green again support new health

clean and green again support new health project to make quality healthcare more

project to make quality healthcare more

project to make quality healthcare more accessible and most importantly invest

accessible and most importantly invest

accessible and most importantly invest in education and provide our community

in education and provide our community

in education and provide our community with a holistic education system there

with a holistic education system there

with a holistic education system there are a lot of young leaders in our

are a lot of young leaders in our

are a lot of young leaders in our community and in this room today with

community and in this room today with

community and in this room today with brilliant ideas support them with your

brilliant ideas support them with your

brilliant ideas support them with your financial resources professional

financial resources professional

financial resources professional expertise provide them with that

expertise provide them with that

expertise provide them with that creative safe environment to test their

creative safe environment to test their

creative safe environment to test their ideas and develop them interpreter

ideas and develop them interpreter

ideas and develop them interpreter so I urge you today to take an action

so I urge you today to take an action

so I urge you today to take an action and use your financial and professional

and use your financial and professional

and use your financial and professional expertise to support them

expertise to support them

expertise to support them now the government plays a crucial role

now the government plays a crucial role

now the government plays a crucial role in this scenario as well first of all

in this scenario as well first of all

in this scenario as well first of all statistics are very important we do not

statistics are very important we do not

statistics are very important we do not have a reliable source of Statistics

have a reliable source of Statistics

have a reliable source of Statistics where we can easily identify the demands

where we can easily identify the demands

where we can easily identify the demands and the gaps in our community second

and the gaps in our community second

and the gaps in our community second youth activities are not promoted and

youth activities are not promoted and

youth activities are not promoted and youth are not equally represented in the

youth are not equally represented in the

youth are not equally represented in the government or political bodies do we

government or political bodies do we

government or political bodies do we even have a Minister of Youth if we do

even have a Minister of Youth if we do

even have a Minister of Youth if we do how old is he in the united arab

how old is he in the united arab

how old is he in the united arab emirates the Minister of Youth is a

emirates the Minister of Youth is a

emirates the Minister of Youth is a female and she’s only 22 years old

female and she’s only 22 years old

female and she’s only 22 years old having that representative in the

having that representative in the

having that representative in the government will bring back prior to our

government will bring back prior to our

government will bring back prior to our youth and will become a support system

youth and will become a support system

youth and will become a support system for their initiatives now the culture in

for their initiatives now the culture in

for their initiatives now the culture in Middle East and in Iraq and Kurdistan

Middle East and in Iraq and Kurdistan

Middle East and in Iraq and Kurdistan does not create a safe environment for

does not create a safe environment for

does not create a safe environment for us youth to express our thoughts instead

us youth to express our thoughts instead

us youth to express our thoughts instead we have been taught that we have to

we have been taught that we have to

we have been taught that we have to listen to our elders and keep our

listen to our elders and keep our

listen to our elders and keep our opinions for ourselves in their presence

opinions for ourselves in their presence

opinions for ourselves in their presence it’s time to create a new culture a

it’s time to create a new culture a

it’s time to create a new culture a culture where innovative ideas are

culture where innovative ideas are

culture where innovative ideas are respected and valued no matter who they

respected and valued no matter who they

respected and valued no matter who they come from in equality in Kurdistan grows

come from in equality in Kurdistan grows

come from in equality in Kurdistan grows faster than many other countries the

faster than many other countries the

faster than many other countries the revolution for development happened so

revolution for development happened so

revolution for development happened so fast that we only imported development

fast that we only imported development

fast that we only imported development and we never invented anything for our

and we never invented anything for our

and we never invented anything for our own at no point have we ever supported

own at no point have we ever supported

own at no point have we ever supported creativity and initiation for social

creativity and initiation for social

creativity and initiation for social change we might think that we are super

change we might think that we are super

change we might think that we are super smart

smart

smart I’m very sorry to disappoint you we’re

I’m very sorry to disappoint you we’re

I’m very sorry to disappoint you we’re simply not that smart but I hope we are

simply not that smart but I hope we are

simply not that smart but I hope we are smart enough to start thinking about the

smart enough to start thinking about the

smart enough to start thinking about the challenges and identify the problems

challenges and identify the problems

challenges and identify the problems around us otherwise it will be too late

around us otherwise it will be too late

around us otherwise it will be too late to work on them now people also ask me

to work on them now people also ask me

to work on them now people also ask me if I earn a lot of money my fellow youth

if I earn a lot of money my fellow youth

if I earn a lot of money my fellow youth and young leaders success is not always

and young leaders success is not always

and young leaders success is not always about earning success is about having

about earning success is about having

about earning success is about having the freedom to follow your passion it’s

the freedom to follow your passion it’s

the freedom to follow your passion it’s about living your dream and that’s how I

about living your dream and that’s how I

about living your dream and that’s how I chose to live

chose to live

chose to live my life how do you want to live yours

my life how do you want to live yours

my life how do you want to live yours before I end my speech today I want you

before I end my speech today I want you

before I end my speech today I want you all everyone to gift yourself something

all everyone to gift yourself something

all everyone to gift yourself something and it said that the best gift that you

and it said that the best gift that you

and it said that the best gift that you can give to yourself is to challenge

can give to yourself is to challenge

can give to yourself is to challenge yourself challenge yourself is something

yourself challenge yourself is something

yourself challenge yourself is something that you love to do and start

that you love to do and start

that you love to do and start identifying the problems around you

identifying the problems around you

identifying the problems around you contribute to the solutions and have an

contribute to the solutions and have an

contribute to the solutions and have an added value to our community if you do

added value to our community if you do

added value to our community if you do this the generations to come will have a

this the generations to come will have a

this the generations to come will have a better world than the one we have today

better world than the one we have today

better world than the one we have today and your legacy will shine after you

and your legacy will shine after you

and your legacy will shine after you thank you very much

thank you very much

thank you very much [Applause]