Theme: Echoes of the Future

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

UWC Dilijan College
7 Getapnya Street
Dilijan, Tavuš, 3903
Armenia

Amevi Kwidama

UWCD Student

From Curacao, Amevi is a student, storyteller and speaker who believes in finding purpose and shaping our own stories. Her TEDx talk "The Search for Life's Purpose", explores how living across different countries, cultures, and facing challenges helps us grow and create our own path. She redefines success in her own terms and breaks barriers inspiring others to embrace their own unique paths.

André Gumuchdjian

Philanthropist and Entrepreneur

Belgian-Armenian philanthropist and entrepreneur, Andre founder my Forest Armenia in 2019 to combat climate change, growing it into Armenia's largest reforestation organization with 2.3 million+ trees planted. A Harvard graduate, he also founded the French Lycée in Antwerp and the Armenian Cultural Centre in Brussels. An avid sailor and mountaineer, he has circumnavigated the globe and scaled Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn.

Anelia Mkrtchyan

Competitive College Club Student

Anelia is a student from Gyumri, Armenia, with a passion for uncovering hidden narratives. A former rhythmic gymnastics champion, FLEX alum, and future UWCD student, she strives to bridge cultural perspectives and connect the humanities with STEM. In her TEDx talk, she explores how the way we tell history shapes power and perception. Outside of academics, she enjoys hiking and playing sports, especially volleyball.

Daniel Barbosa

UWCD Student

Daniel Barbosa from Bogota, Colombia is a Best Delegate award winner in national MUN competitions and placed third in his countries Math Olympiad. His talk, "From Actions to Destiny", explores the deeper meaning behind events, challenging the idea of pure luck and emphasising the power of discovery and understanding.

Hanwa Mate Ongalo

UWCD Student

Kenyan born speaker Hana has always been passionate about using the gift of speech to say things that have the potential to have an impact in others lives. All his life, he has always been on a stage or speaking in front of crowds, something that he has grown to love it with all his heart. His interest in breaking boundaries and changing narratives fuel his idea that change is what will drive the future forward, and that's what he will be speaking about.

Kassandra Fineberg

Assistant Head of Academic Development

Kassandra has been an international teacher for almost 20 years, with a deep interest in literature, theatre and all forms of storytelling. Her TEDx talk explores her move from the busy city of Shanghai to the peaceful life of a silent retreat in the Balinese countryside.

Lara Tcholakian

Executive Leader, Teacher and Researcher.

Lara Tcholakian, PhD, is a Canadian-Armenian executive and scholar of leadership, organizational behavior, trauma, and mindfulness. She is a visiting scholar at Vrije Universiteit (Amsterdam), INSEAD, Matena’s School of Leadership (Armenia) and the Chief People Officer at Ucom. She has lived and worked in Canada, France, Peru, Sri Lanka, and Armenia. Her publications and lectures focus on business and peace, trauma-informed awareness, and historical consciousness, which she uses to support executives and organizations in leading with self-awareness and mindfulness. She enjoys yoga, meditation, breathwork, research and writing, and spending quality time with her husband, Raffi, and three children, Rupen, Aram, and Kami.

Milan Miljkovic

Head of TOK at UWCD | English Teacher

Milan comes from Serbia, a country with a tumultuous past and not the best record in education. Looking back, the most prominent achievements he has had are gaining better self-understanding and finding his own calling as an educator which he is personally invested in the future of teaching. Through reading books, walking, dancing and seeking moments of quiet, he wonders how the future will nourish our minds and bodies.

Rebecca Hakobyan

Head of Marketing and Communications at Ameriabank

Rebecca is a dreamer from Armenia, and she believes that humanity should never be defined by nationality. We are all global citizens, and it's important that we appreciate our differences, find mutual understanding, care for and support each other. The skill to find balance in almost every situation has allowed her to explore the world with an open mind, drawing inspiration not only from her career and entrepreneurial successes but also from various moments of everyday life. Rebecca is going to share her formula of finding inner balance in the crazy world of constant decisions, choices and constant dilemmas.

Rebecca Verschuure

Competitive College Club Student

Rebecca Paula Verschuure is an Armenian-Dutch high school senior in Yerevan. She aspires to major in engineering. Besides her interest in the science field, she has a deep appreciation for the arts, especially music and orchestra, which she expresses by playing the violin. Rebecca also loves movies and reading books, which has fueled her enthusiasm for language learning and led her to tutor others in English.

Valerik Tadevosyan

Competitive College Club Student

Valer is from Vardenis and Yerevan, Armenia and an outstanding member of the Competitive College Club. In his speech, he explores how people often conform to societal expectations instead of pursuing their true aspirations and encourages individuals to take control of their own narrative. He is passionate about business, research, and literature, he also enjoys acting, volunteering, and community service.

Varda Avetisyan

Food Entrepreneur, Founder of Vardo Group LLC

Varda Avetisyan is a food entrepreneur in Armenia and the founder of Vardo Group, which operates several restaurants and eateries. With her background in Service and Hospitality Management from Chicago, Varda applied her expertise to revitalise traditional Armenian cuisine with a fresh and holistic approach upon returning to Armenia. Her mission is to bring Armenian cuisine to the global stage; through a creative and playful approach grounded in deep culinary expertise, crafting balanced, technologically refined dishes. As a businesswoman, one of Varda’s missions is to inspire other women, encouraging them to believe in their ideas and recognize that their work and dreams matter. Her openness to collaboration enable her to direct large-scale projects toward benefiting local communities and contributing to the country’s culinary and economic development in a meaningful way. Today, Vardo Group is a rapidly expanding creative enterprise that is shaping the culinary scene in Armenia.