Article 9:TEDX Entebbe Insights: A Tapestry of Community, Empathy, and Personal Growth.

On Friday 20th October, 2023, TEDX Entebbe organised an independently organised TED event which featured a number of diverse voices and experiences who brought forth a tapestry of wisdom, highlighting key themes of community, empathy, personal growth, and the dynamic evolution of the digital age.

These are my 4 Key Takeaways from the event.We should not underestimate the power of community.

We should not underestimate the power of community.

Joel Aita Jaffer was the first speaker with The Stone Soup Ideology. His story highlights the idea that collective magic transcends individual stones. He stated that they are building a 50 billion staidum in Arua because of the contributions of the common person. Any person can own a shop in the stadium with the lowest owner paying 10,000/= a day. His story showed that despite not qualifying for a loan. His company, through the lovely Arua community, are able to build a stadium that will uplift Arua city and beyond.

2. Share your good deeds with the world to inspire others.

Civic Source, team led, Jacqueline Asiimwe, shared that Civic Source embracing African philanthropy through sharing African communal stories that are touching lives. At Civic Source they aim to change the mentality that philanthropy is a rich man’s or white man’s philosophy and highlight the generosity of Africans. Tonny Otoa, CEO, Ubuntu leadership Safari discussed about his journey on using social media as a positive force in the community. Ubuntu Leadership Safari holds Community Fridays which cascades into a ripple effect of shared wisdom. Robert Kabushenga shared insights on humility as the cornerstone of empathy. He further stated that for one to be empathetic, they have to be self-aware and authentic in whatever they do, this will enable people want to communicate to you. He further urged the audience to stimulate adversity in their lives through occasionally creating challenging situations. He did this recently by climbing Mountain Rwenzori. He stated that such acts will keep one’s ego in check and remind you to stay humble. He ended his presentation by urging members to embrace gratitude and do good those who cannot do anything for you. This was clearly highlighted by a Dr. Gladys Atto, who is providing free eye care to less privileged communities of Karamoja. She shared her journey on interacting with the locals and urged more Ugandans to serve in hard-to-reach areas.

3. Resilience and scaling up companies.

Anthony Natiff, the former CEO of Guardian Health, urged entrepreneurs to empower staff through ownership of the company and giving people more responsibility. He stated that your job as the leader of a company should be to empower others to run the company, that is how great companies thrive for hundreds of years, long after their founder. Vincent Kayomba, the CEO of Pinnacle Security Limited, shared his personal journey of resilience from being a little boy in the village, selling fish to owning his own security company. He urged the audience to never give up and always give your best. His journey was one where his hard work created opportunities for him and enable him to create trust with people who elevated him through his journey. Michael Niyitegeka, CEO, Refactory; provided insights on life skills and adapting to the evolving technology in order for one to survive. Technology is your friend, he reiterated, use it to grow your business.

4. Do not forget to enjoy the journey.

Jerry Opoka, then shared insights on using dance for mental health through her dance sessions that have become a safe place for women to grow together. The TED Talk was crowned with DJ Mitch’s journey of self-innovation where he provided insights for members to absorb essential skills for personal and professional growth. He shared that Public Speaking came natural to him and he was having fun when MC ing at different events. He stated that this has enabled him to enjoy the journey and be in the present. He told the audience to look at what they are good at, what brings them joy, let it be your unique niche and communicate it clearly to the outside world so they know you for that particular skill. His skill is Public Speaking and he enjoys it.

In conclusion, I would like to thank TEDX Entebbe for organising an amazing event. This TEDX Entebbe Event not only presented a kaleidoscope of experiences but also threaded a common narrative of community strength, empathy in action, and the perpetual journey of personal growth. It further showcased that in the digital age, embracing change, diversity and authenticity is paramount for creating a positive impact.