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Dreams do come TRUE! | Ravan Al-Taie | TEDxNishtiman


[Music]

[Music] five years ago I was standing out there

five years ago I was standing out there

five years ago I was standing out there just like all of you watching an

just like all of you watching an

just like all of you watching an inspiring TEDx event then all of a

inspiring TEDx event then all of a

inspiring TEDx event then all of a sudden I turned to a bunch of my friends

sudden I turned to a bunch of my friends

sudden I turned to a bunch of my friends and told them one day I will be on this

and told them one day I will be on this

and told them one day I will be on this stage at that time I didn’t know how

stage at that time I didn’t know how

stage at that time I didn’t know how when where and for what reason will I be

when where and for what reason will I be

when where and for what reason will I be on the stage but what I believe the most

on the stage but what I believe the most

on the stage but what I believe the most that when you want something you have a

that when you want something you have a

that when you want something you have a for sure I hadn’t started my first book

for sure I hadn’t started my first book

for sure I hadn’t started my first book yet I was a normal volunteer in

yet I was a normal volunteer in

yet I was a normal volunteer in Wikipedia just like the other ten

Wikipedia just like the other ten

Wikipedia just like the other ten millions all around the world I didn’t

millions all around the world I didn’t

millions all around the world I didn’t have that successful career I’m having

have that successful career I’m having

have that successful career I’m having today and I didn’t even know what the

today and I didn’t even know what the

today and I didn’t even know what the term enterpreneur meant I’m here today

term enterpreneur meant I’m here today

term enterpreneur meant I’m here today to tell you how any one of you could be

to tell you how any one of you could be

to tell you how any one of you could be on this stage well it’s obvious nowadays

on this stage well it’s obvious nowadays

on this stage well it’s obvious nowadays that there is a huge gap between the

that there is a huge gap between the

that there is a huge gap between the developing world and the developed world

developing world and the developed world

developing world and the developed world if you will think about what this gap is

if you will think about what this gap is

if you will think about what this gap is you will find out that it’s not about

you will find out that it’s not about

you will find out that it’s not about money because in general as resources we

money because in general as resources we

money because in general as resources we have a lot of money it’s not about the

have a lot of money it’s not about the

have a lot of money it’s not about the lack of human resources because

lack of human resources because

lack of human resources because comparing to places like Europe we have

comparing to places like Europe we have

comparing to places like Europe we have a huge population in my opinion this gap

a huge population in my opinion this gap

a huge population in my opinion this gap is caused by the lack of knowledge the

is caused by the lack of knowledge the

is caused by the lack of knowledge the most thing we are missing in this era in

most thing we are missing in this era in

most thing we are missing in this era in this place is knowledge and awareness

when it comes to knowledge you have to

when it comes to knowledge you have to mention one place let me ask you a

mention one place let me ask you a

mention one place let me ask you a question who here is or was a university

question who here is or was a university

question who here is or was a university student or high school student in the

student or high school student in the

student or high school student in the past decade raise your hand

past decade raise your hand

past decade raise your hand great so you remember these unfinished

great so you remember these unfinished

great so you remember these unfinished reports you have deadlines what was your

reports you have deadlines what was your

reports you have deadlines what was your last minute life saving resource that

last minute life saving resource that

last minute life saving resource that you copied that last missing paragraph

you copied that last missing paragraph

you copied that last missing paragraph to your

to your

to your word from can you guess wikipedia really

word from can you guess wikipedia really

word from can you guess wikipedia really when it comes to knowledge in the past

when it comes to knowledge in the past

when it comes to knowledge in the past decade you have to mention Wikipedia

decade you have to mention Wikipedia

decade you have to mention Wikipedia I still remember myself back in 2008 I

I still remember myself back in 2008 I

I still remember myself back in 2008 I was feeling like a black sheep among my

was feeling like a black sheep among my

was feeling like a black sheep among my surrounding literally a black sheep I

surrounding literally a black sheep I

surrounding literally a black sheep I badly wanted to make a positive change

badly wanted to make a positive change

badly wanted to make a positive change in this world but I feel stuck in a

in this world but I feel stuck in a

in this world but I feel stuck in a surrounding that doesn’t belong to me

surrounding that doesn’t belong to me

surrounding that doesn’t belong to me then I met Wikipedia my whole life is

then I met Wikipedia my whole life is

then I met Wikipedia my whole life is divided – before Wikipedia and after

divided – before Wikipedia and after

divided – before Wikipedia and after Wikipedia I met Wikipedia through an

Wikipedia I met Wikipedia through an

Wikipedia I met Wikipedia through an online campaign made by two Egyptian

online campaign made by two Egyptian

online campaign made by two Egyptian guys they were encouraging people to

guys they were encouraging people to

guys they were encouraging people to participate and contribute in the sum of

participate and contribute in the sum of

participate and contribute in the sum of human knowledge I got fascinated by the

human knowledge I got fascinated by the

human knowledge I got fascinated by the idea and how easy it is yet extremely

idea and how easy it is yet extremely

idea and how easy it is yet extremely valuable

valuable

valuable imagine yourself providing information

imagine yourself providing information

imagine yourself providing information and knowledge to people and their own

and knowledge to people and their own

and knowledge to people and their own language what could be more amazing than

language what could be more amazing than

language what could be more amazing than that when you write an article or

that when you write an article or

that when you write an article or translated to Wikipedia is still

translated to Wikipedia is still

translated to Wikipedia is still available there for all the humanity to

available there for all the humanity to

available there for all the humanity to benefit from at least until the internet

benefit from at least until the internet

benefit from at least until the internet exists – continues of course so when I

exists – continues of course so when I

exists – continues of course so when I started to edit Wikipedia it reminded me

started to edit Wikipedia it reminded me

started to edit Wikipedia it reminded me of two great values I had already in my

of two great values I had already in my

of two great values I had already in my life the first one was the value Allah

life the first one was the value Allah

life the first one was the value Allah saying zakat ll me national home then

saying zakat ll me national home then

saying zakat ll me national home then the other value is the concept of sadaqa

the other value is the concept of sadaqa

the other value is the concept of sadaqa jariya the good deeds that you are doing

jariya the good deeds that you are doing

jariya the good deeds that you are doing in your life and keep rewarding even

in your life and keep rewarding even

in your life and keep rewarding even after your death

after your death

after your death I started in Wikipedia as a normal

I started in Wikipedia as a normal

I started in Wikipedia as a normal volunteer as I was socializing on

volunteer as I was socializing on

volunteer as I was socializing on Facebook surfing the net

Facebook surfing the net

Facebook surfing the net I had always the other tab open in my

I had always the other tab open in my

I had always the other tab open in my laptop for editing Wikipedia few years

laptop for editing Wikipedia few years

laptop for editing Wikipedia few years later I got promoted to be an admin

later I got promoted to be an admin

later I got promoted to be an admin there then eventually I was chosen to

there then eventually I was chosen to

there then eventually I was chosen to represent the entire world Volunteers of

represent the entire world Volunteers of

represent the entire world Volunteers of Wikipedia and its 200

Wikipedia and its 200

Wikipedia and its 200 90 different languages to receive the

90 different languages to receive the

90 different languages to receive the most prestigious award in Spain

most prestigious award in Spain

most prestigious award in Spain presented by the king and queen of Spain

presented by the king and queen of Spain

presented by the king and queen of Spain princess of Asturias a word that was

princess of Asturias a word that was

princess of Asturias a word that was given

given

given princess of asturias award that was

princess of asturias award that was

princess of asturias award that was given to Wikipedia and the branch of

given to Wikipedia and the branch of

given to Wikipedia and the branch of international cooperation for the role

international cooperation for the role

international cooperation for the role played and suprising knowledge all

played and suprising knowledge all

played and suprising knowledge all around the world we all might be very

around the world we all might be very

around the world we all might be very familiar with the concept of donating

familiar with the concept of donating

familiar with the concept of donating money donating effort maybe but donating

money donating effort maybe but donating

money donating effort maybe but donating knowledge and helping in making this

knowledge and helping in making this

knowledge and helping in making this place this planet a much brighter place

place this planet a much brighter place

place this planet a much brighter place as something was trying for sure I am

as something was trying for sure I am

as something was trying for sure I am where I am today simply because I

where I am today simply because I

where I am today simply because I donated knowledge then even though the

donated knowledge then even though the

donated knowledge then even though the Wikipedia journey was very satisfying

Wikipedia journey was very satisfying

Wikipedia journey was very satisfying yet I felt like that I have much more to

yet I felt like that I have much more to

yet I felt like that I have much more to say and contribute to in this world so I

say and contribute to in this world so I

say and contribute to in this world so I was thinking instead of me writing

was thinking instead of me writing

was thinking instead of me writing articles blogging having these small

articles blogging having these small

articles blogging having these small pieces of literature here and there why

pieces of literature here and there why

pieces of literature here and there why shouldn’t I go and start my first novel

shouldn’t I go and start my first novel

shouldn’t I go and start my first novel I won’t tell you much about what my

I won’t tell you much about what my

I won’t tell you much about what my novel is about but I will tell you how

novel is about but I will tell you how

novel is about but I will tell you how the idea came to my mind and I have a

the idea came to my mind and I have a

the idea came to my mind and I have a question for you

question for you

question for you do you know about tolerance if you

do you know about tolerance if you

do you know about tolerance if you didn’t get the exact definition and

didn’t get the exact definition and

didn’t get the exact definition and Cordish recall it lejos boon in arabic

Cordish recall it lejos boon in arabic

Cordish recall it lejos boon in arabic it’s Alta sama

it’s Alta sama

it’s Alta sama I will cherish are you tolerant do you

I will cherish are you tolerant do you

I will cherish are you tolerant do you consider yourself as a tolerant person

consider yourself as a tolerant person

consider yourself as a tolerant person if you will ask this question to anyone

if you will ask this question to anyone

if you will ask this question to anyone you will get a chance of 99.9 percent of

you will get a chance of 99.9 percent of

you will get a chance of 99.9 percent of an answer of yes of course I am tolerant

an answer of yes of course I am tolerant

an answer of yes of course I am tolerant then if I will tell you now that the

then if I will tell you now that the

then if I will tell you now that the person over there is an atheist what

person over there is an atheist what

person over there is an atheist what would be your reaction

would be your reaction

would be your reaction most probably you would say it’s fine

most probably you would say it’s fine

most probably you would say it’s fine there are three I have nothing to do

there are three I have nothing to do

there are three I have nothing to do with them then what if I will tell you

with them then what if I will tell you

with them then what if I will tell you that your own child brother or sister is

that your own child brother or sister is

that your own child brother or sister is deciding to become an atheist truly and

deciding to become an atheist truly and

deciding to become an atheist truly and honestly what would be your honest

honestly what would be your honest

honestly what would be your honest reaction I’ve asked this question to

reaction I’ve asked this question to

reaction I’ve asked this question to more than hundred of different people

more than hundred of different people

more than hundred of different people from all different backgrounds and

from all different backgrounds and

from all different backgrounds and environments and believe me

environments and believe me

environments and believe me the mildest and the most educated

the mildest and the most educated

the mildest and the most educated response eige was I will enter my

response eige was I will enter my

response eige was I will enter my relationship with them we are here today

relationship with them we are here today

relationship with them we are here today talking about rehabilitation and

talking about rehabilitation and

talking about rehabilitation and development how will we survive if we

development how will we survive if we

development how will we survive if we will still have the same see tricked and

will still have the same see tricked and

will still have the same see tricked and rigid mentality that we always had after

rigid mentality that we always had after

rigid mentality that we always had after seeing so many of these reactions I’ve

seeing so many of these reactions I’ve

seeing so many of these reactions I’ve decided to write a novel a novel about

decided to write a novel a novel about

decided to write a novel a novel about real people and real conflicts a novel

real people and real conflicts a novel

real people and real conflicts a novel that addresses these issues and

that addresses these issues and

that addresses these issues and identifies them in all the different

identifies them in all the different

identifies them in all the different aspects and by the way I’ve used the

aspects and by the way I’ve used the

aspects and by the way I’ve used the atheist example because I believe in

atheist example because I believe in

atheist example because I believe in Middle East as general there could be

Middle East as general there could be

Middle East as general there could be the most extreme case that anyone could

the most extreme case that anyone could

the most extreme case that anyone could deal with during the process of writing

deal with during the process of writing

deal with during the process of writing my novel I was always behind a laptop

my novel I was always behind a laptop

my novel I was always behind a laptop writing in some corner at my house I was

writing in some corner at my house I was

writing in some corner at my house I was dying literally to sit on an

dying literally to sit on an

dying literally to sit on an inspirational place full of books full

inspirational place full of books full

inspirational place full of books full of colors but I couldn’t find one here

of colors but I couldn’t find one here

of colors but I couldn’t find one here then I was thinking why wouldn’t I start

then I was thinking why wouldn’t I start

then I was thinking why wouldn’t I start such a place here at first when I had

such a place here at first when I had

such a place here at first when I had the idea of opening the first book cafe

the idea of opening the first book cafe

the idea of opening the first book cafe in Kurdistan most people were laughing

in Kurdistan most people were laughing

in Kurdistan most people were laughing at me most of them they were saying it’s

at me most of them they were saying it’s

at me most of them they were saying it’s a very nice idea but it will be a big

a very nice idea but it will be a big

a very nice idea but it will be a big failure because simply

failure because simply

failure because simply Marie’s here I got nothing to start with

Marie’s here I got nothing to start with

Marie’s here I got nothing to start with I couldn’t get a bank loan I couldn’t do

I couldn’t get a bank loan I couldn’t do

I couldn’t get a bank loan I couldn’t do it alone for sure because all what I

it alone for sure because all what I

it alone for sure because all what I have is my salary and no salary alone

have is my salary and no salary alone

have is my salary and no salary alone will help you and start a business but

will help you and start a business but

will help you and start a business but when you believe in yourself and you

when you believe in yourself and you

when you believe in yourself and you believe in your idea you will come

believe in your idea you will come

believe in your idea you will come across people that they believe in an as

across people that they believe in an as

across people that they believe in an as well in my case that was my friend

well in my case that was my friend

well in my case that was my friend Sharon she is sitting here also among

Sharon she is sitting here also among

Sharon she is sitting here also among you today she believed in the idea she

you today she believed in the idea she

you today she believed in the idea she loved it she took the risk with me at

loved it she took the risk with me at

loved it she took the risk with me at the beginning of the journey and we made

the beginning of the journey and we made

the beginning of the journey and we made it we built a beautiful place to return

it we built a beautiful place to return

it we built a beautiful place to return back

back

back [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] we built a beautiful place to return

we built a beautiful place to return

we built a beautiful place to return back the glow of a reading culture a

back the glow of a reading culture a

back the glow of a reading culture a place that celebrates art beauty and

place that celebrates art beauty and

place that celebrates art beauty and knowledge now let’s come back to the

knowledge now let’s come back to the

knowledge now let’s come back to the main question what prevents you from

main question what prevents you from

main question what prevents you from achieving your goals and making your

achieving your goals and making your

achieving your goals and making your dreams come true you might have so many

dreams come true you might have so many

dreams come true you might have so many answers for this question circumstances

answers for this question circumstances

answers for this question circumstances financial problems family issues maybe

financial problems family issues maybe

financial problems family issues maybe blah blah blah but let me tell you one

blah blah blah but let me tell you one

blah blah blah but let me tell you one thing the only thing that stands between

thing the only thing that stands between

thing the only thing that stands between you and your dreams is one thing fear

you and your dreams is one thing fear

you and your dreams is one thing fear fear of failure fear of losing or what

fear of failure fear of losing or what

fear of failure fear of losing or what you have fear of people’s talk playfully

you have fear of people’s talk playfully

you have fear of people’s talk playfully as we call it feel of leaving your

as we call it feel of leaving your

as we call it feel of leaving your comfort zone feel of stepping a new step

comfort zone feel of stepping a new step

comfort zone feel of stepping a new step in a road then no one went through

in a road then no one went through

in a road then no one went through earlier if you will overcome this fear I

earlier if you will overcome this fear I

earlier if you will overcome this fear I promise you you will get all what you

promise you you will get all what you

promise you you will get all what you wanted in life

[Applause]

[Applause] universe is like an open catalogue you

universe is like an open catalogue you

universe is like an open catalogue you can go choose what you want to be and

can go choose what you want to be and

can go choose what you want to be and what you want to have if you come to our

what you want to have if you come to our

what you want to have if you come to our cafe the first thing that you will see

cafe the first thing that you will see

cafe the first thing that you will see and the entrance on the right is an

and the entrance on the right is an

and the entrance on the right is an entire wall with one word on it it says

entire wall with one word on it it says

entire wall with one word on it it says believe what made me be here on this

believe what made me be here on this

believe what made me be here on this stage today

stage today

stage today comparing to five years ago is only one

comparing to five years ago is only one

comparing to five years ago is only one thing I believed thank you

thing I believed thank you

thing I believed thank you [Applause]

”

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