Pakistan: Harnessing humanity, third TEDx salon in Islamabad focuses on innovative humanitarian efforts
Pakistan, with a population of nearly 220 million people, faces a diverse range of interconnected humanitarian issues. And yet, the country's growing number of young people and their strong sense of resilience have given rise to many community-centred initiatives that address these problems.
In 2021, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) partnered with TEDxIslamabad for the third time to celebrate individuals whose dedication and innovative humanitarian efforts have benefited thousands. Centred around the theme "Harnessing humanity", the TEDx salon commends those individuals who make a profound difference to the lives of the country's most vulnerable people. People and their well-being lie at the heart of the ICRC's humanitarian work. In keeping with this spirit, we invited individuals working in areas ranging from physical rehabilitation for social inclusion and humanitarian technology to community engagement in first aid and educational equity. Here is a look at the panel of speakers who reflected compassion, inclusion, innovation and the commitment to work towards a more prosperous future for all
Usama Javed, founder of Saving 9, a social enterprise dedicated to teaching people how to save lives through first aid and mental health education, talked about the power of human synergy. He focused on the power of first-aid training and knowledge in saving lives in emergencies.
Najma Un Nisa, a physical rehabilitation professional specializing in the treatment and management of clubfoot, discussed the social stigma attached with disability and its impact on family members. Clubfoot, a condition that can be reversed with early treatment, is a congenital disability where a child is born with their feet turned inwards.
Khadija Shahper Bakhtiar, CEO and founder of Teach for Pakistan, a national movement to end educational inequity, discussed the importance of early childhood education and how it paves the path for enhanced social and economic inclusion. According to Khadija, "A child from a poor family is already behind by the time they get to school."
Maliha Javed Khan, a teacher by profession, explained the potential of simple and low-cost transformations to help alleviate poverty in Pakistan. Maliha has transformed classroom experiences by translating parts of the national curriculum into digital content. She uses technology to fight poverty and is a part of various digital transformations in Pakistan to improve the livelihoods of rural and semi-urban communities across the country.