When Julius Maada Bio first seized political power in Sierra Leone in 1996, he did so to improve the lives of its citizens. But he soon realized that for democracy to flourish, its foundation needs to be built on the will of the people. After arranging an election, he voluntarily gave up power and left Africa. Twenty years later, after being dem...

Filmmaker Newton Aduaka shows clips from his powerful, lyrical feature film "Ezra," about a child soldier in Sierra Leone.

Reporter Janine di Giovanni has been to the worst places on Earth to bring back stories from Bosnia, Sierra Leone and most recently Syria. She tells stories of human moments within large conflicts -- and explores that shocking transition when a familiar city street becomes a bombed-out battleground.

What drove David Sengeh to create a more comfortable prosthetic limb? He grew up in Sierra Leone, and too many of the people he loves are missing limbs after the brutal civil war there. When he noticed that people who had prosthetics weren’t actually wearing them, the TED Fellow set out to discover why — and to solve the problem with his team fr...

Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone, is on a mission to plant a million trees over the next two years, increasing vegetation in her city by fifty percent while shoring up eroding riverbanks and increasing biodiversity. "This isn't just about planting trees; it's about growing trees, and it's about ensuring that each one of us is ...

As President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio seeks to find ways to make progress happen -- not to dwell on the obstacles that impede it.

Astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison‘s inclusive, audacious journey to improving life here on earth and beyond is paving the way for human interstellar travel.

Dr. Joia Mukherjee is dedicated to improving health care options in poor communities.

Aaswath Raman is a scientist passionate about harnessing new sources of energy, mitigating climate change and more intelligently understanding the world around us -- by better manipulating light and heat using nanoscale materials.

As mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr is committed to addressing her city's challenges using an inclusive, data-driven approach to urban development.

Jessica Jackley is the co-founder of Kiva.org, an online community that helps individuals loan small amounts of money, called microloans, to entrepreneurs throughout the world.

Pardis Sabeti investigates the genomes of microbes, like Ebola and coronavirus, to understand how to slow them.

About this event: TEDxYouth@KingTom is the first TEDx event specifically dedicated to youths in Sierra Leone. TEDxYouth@KingTom will be a platform for inspiring curiosity, fostering critical thinking, showcasing youthful talents, and reflecting ideas that will empower young people and spur them to action. Our full day conference will feature authentic and inspiri...

Even the most advanced prosthetic isn't useful if it's hard to wear. This observation guides TED Fellow David Sengeh's work at the Biomechatronics group in the MIT Media Lab.

Janine di Giovanni reports from war zones around the world.

Samantha Nutt envisions a world where no child knows war.

As director of The Vaccine Confidence Project, Heidi J. Larson works to evaluate and address vaccine hesitancy.

Khadija Gbla is an award-winning inspirational speaker, facilitator and cross-cultural consultant. She is a former refugee from Sierra Leone currently living in Australia.

Newton Aduaka's award-winning Ezra, told through the eyes of a young boy in Sierra Leone, illuminates one of the most harrowing consequences of war: the recruitment of child soldiers.

About this event: TEDx Freetown is about creating space for dialogue and interaction, exchange and network building. TEDx Freetown will provide influential Sierra Leoneans the opportunity to speak to the inherent need for innovation in order to gestate change with the aim of ensuring a future where anything will be possible. TEDx Freetown will serve as the c...

A persistent sight in David Sengeh's childhood, growing up in Sierra Leone: amputees. Losing a limb was an all-too-common fact in the civil-war-torn region. But the aftermath was almost worse, Sengeh saw, as he watched family members and friends struggle with ill-fitting, uncomfortable prosthetics that hurt too much to wear. Here, the 201...

At the end of Session 2, the Asphalt Orchestra led a parade of TEDWomen attendees to the gorgeous Atrium for dinner and a bonus session of speakers and interviews. (Photo: Michael Brands / TED) Nancy Pelosi spoke with Pat Mitchell in an intimate conversation on women and power. (Photo: James Duncan Davidson / TED) Marjorie Marg...

About this event: Visionary Leadership: harnessing to technology to change lives

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Tuesday afternoon at the TEDx Africa Skype station, host Kelo Kubu chatted with TEDx events in South Africa, Ghana and Ethiopia. It was on the verge of midnight in Johannesburg when Bongi Mkhabela of TEDxSoweto talked with TEDWomen attendees about the importance of listening to different perspectives -- a strong theme in Session 1. Halla Tom...

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Session 5 of TEDWomen 2019 is all about seeking meaning: in our political lives, creative lives, healthcare systems, criminal justice and beyond. The event: TEDWomen 2019, Session 5: Meaning Seekers, hosted by Helen Walters and Anna Verghese When and where: Thursday, December 5, 2019, 5pm PT, at La Quinta Resort & Club in La Quinta...

These works are part of a larger global art initiative that spans 10 cities on 3 continents, all launching on 10.10.2020 as part of Countdown. Go here on 10.10 to see all of the works revealed.  Our climate is in a state of crisis. But at a time when attention is being pulled in every direction by phone alerts, social media posts, emails ...

Sangu Delle is an entrepreneur and clean water activist. A TED Fellow who hails from Ghana, he sees incredible potential in the African economy.