A “space for fresh ideas, civic reflection, and visionary thinking”, TEDxTurkeyen is set to debut on August 29 at the George Walcott Lecture Theatre, University of Guyana.
The event will follow the theme ‘Bold Voices, New Visions: Shaping Guyana’s Tomorrow’. Organisers say the inaugural event is rooted in the globally respected TED model, bringing together thinkers, builders, and everyday Guyanese with extraordinary stories to tell.
“TEDxTurkeyen was born out of a deep concern for the quality of civic discourse in Guyana,” event organiser Janelle Persaud said.
“Too often, critical research and bold ideas remain locked away in institutions and publications or dismissed on social platforms.” She said the event aims to bridge that divide.
“We want TEDxTurkeyen to be a space where people feel free to think out loud… to challenge, reimagine, and contribute to the national conversation with courage and care,” Persaud added.
Speakers will discuss topics such as inclusive democracy, justice, youth entrepreneurship, Indigenous language preservation, and education reform.
The event will also serve as a launchpad for the Guyana Academic Exchange, another public discourse, Persaud said she is pursuing. This is intended to be a quarterly initiative spotlighting academic research and lived experiences in shaping national development.
Organisers said more details on ticketing and speakers about the TEDx event will be shared in the coming weeks.
According to the event description, TEDxTurkeyen is an independently organised TEDx event, licensed by TED. TED is an American-Canadian non-profit media organization that posts international talks online for free distribution under the slogan ‘Ideas Change Everything’.
