Theme: Duck, Duck, Goose! How our differences make us stronger…

Our guests will share a unique TEDx experience with us by presenting examples from their own lives that illustrate how differences can empower individuals. In each of our lives, aspects of our identity, background, or perspective have set us apart from others. Although these differences may sometimes seem like obstacles, when seen from the right perspective, they can become a person’s greatest strength. These talks will focus on understanding and inspiring this transformation.

Each speaker will share how they perceived their differences as a challenge in their own lives, the difficulties they faced while grappling with those challenges, and how, through this process, they discovered an inner potential. For example, we invite speakers to discuss how being outside the norms or standards has made them stronger individuals and contributed to their current successes.

The main aim of this event is to show young people that differences are not merely individual traits, but also a source of strength. Through questions like, “Has your difference ever turned into an obstacle in your life? If so, how did it become one? How did you discover the potential within this difference and turn the situation to your advantage? What did it bring to your life?”, our guests will share the lessons they’ve learned while forging their own paths, within a maximum of eighteen minutes in line with TEDx rules. We hope these stories will not only inspire the audience, but also encourage them to embrace their own differences and turn them into an advantage in their lives.

Enka Okulları İbrahim Betil Oditoryumu
Enka İbrahim Betil Oditoryumu, Poligon, Enka Sadi Gülçelik Spor Tesisleri, 34460 Sarıyer/İstanbul
Istanbul, İstanbul, 34460
Turkey

Dalia Maya

Author and Translator

Dalia Maya is an author, columnist, and cultural advocate. In 2023, she published her debut book, Ayrıkotunun İçsel Yolculuğu (The Inner Journey of the Dandelion), which explores themes of identity, belonging, and the human experience. She contributes to Şalom, a newspaper, and is the founder of sansliyazi.com, a platform dedicated to personal and cultural narratives. Maya serves on the executive board of the Jewish Museum of Turkey. She is also a mother and daughter, embracing her multifaceted identity through her writing and community involvement.

Deli Mi Ne (Fester Abdü)

Social Media Content Creator

Fester Abdü, whose real name is Ali Abdülselam Yılmaz, is a graduate of the Faculty of Sports Sciences at Marmara University. Widely known for his YouTube channel “Deli Mi Ne?”, he quickly gained a large following through his daring content featuring extreme sports, social experiments, and unconventional themes. In addition to his digital presence, Yılmaz is also a national athlete on Turkey’s Canoe Team, earning recognition for his achievements in sports. His bold and high-energy style has made him especially popular among younger audiences, establishing him as one of the most prominent content creators in YouTube Turkey. Beyond entertainment, Yılmaz is actively involved in social responsibility projects and strives to raise awareness through digital platforms. He has also participated in international events and secured a strong presence in digital media with his distinctive approach to content creation.

Erol Evgin

Turkish Pop Music Artist

Erol Evgin is a renowned Turkish pop music artist, singer, composer, actor, and architect, born on April 16, 1947. He graduated from Istanbul High School for Boys and pursued a degree in architecture at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, where he later also served as a lecturer. His music career began in 1969 with the release of his debut singles "Sen" and "Eski Günler." Collaborating with lyricist Çiğdem Talu and composer Melih Kibar, he contributed significantly to the development of Turkish pop music. Evgin is also a founding member of the Foundation for Popular Music Arts (POPSAV), where he served as Chairman of the Board for three years and currently heads the High Advisory Council. In addition to his musical accomplishments, he is passionate about painting, exhibiting his artwork in various galleries. Fluent in both German and English, Erol Evgin holds a distinguished place in the Turkish art scene with his multifaceted career spanning music, architecture, and visual arts.

Haydar Acun

Creator of Marmara Capital

Haydar Acun is the founding partner and chairman of the board at Marmara Capital Portfolio Management Inc. A graduate of Istanbul University’s Faculty of Business Administration, Acun began his career as an equity analyst at Global Menkul Değerler between 1993 and 1995. He then worked in London as the country analyst for Turkey at Schroders Securities, where he was recognized by Extel as the best analyst covering Turkey. From 1998 to 2000, Acun served as director responsible for Turkey operations at CAIB, the investment arm of Austria Bank, in London. He later established the company’s representative office in Istanbul, marking his return to Turkey. In 2006, he founded Sardis Menkul Değerler, serving as its general manager and chairman of the board until the end of 2014. Marmara Capital was established in 2015 with the approval of the Capital Markets Board, and since then, Acun has been leading the company.

Mina Çermikli

Turkey Leader of Curvy Girls Scoliosis, student

Mina Çermikli is an 11th-grade IB student at ENKA High School, known not only for her academic excellence but also for her active involvement in social responsibility initiatives. For the past two years, she has been leading the Turkish chapter of Curvy Girls Scoliosis, an international support organization for girls with scoliosis. Mina has been working to raise awareness and provide support for girls living with scoliosis both in Turkey and abroad. She founded a peer support group composed of girls with scoliosis, fostering solidarity and knowledge-sharing among members. As the representative of this global movement in Turkey, Mina actively participates in various initiatives and events, promoting inclusion and empowerment through advocacy.

Okan Ayas

Teacher, Vice Principle

Okan Ayas was born in 1976 in Marburg, Germany. After graduating from the Department of Geography at Istanbul University’s Faculty of Letters, he completed his master’s degree in Middle Eastern Geography at Marmara University. With 23 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in various educational institutions, he is currently serving as the Vice Principal at ENKA High School.

Şafak Pavey

United Nations Diplomat

After working for many years at the United Nations, Şafak Pavey became the first woman with disabilities elected to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in 2011. While studying art in Zurich, she had a train accident that shifted her path to international relations and nationalism studies in London. At the UN, she worked on refugee issues in the Middle East and North Africa and later as treaty secretary for the Human Rights Commission. In parliament, she focused on environmental and social policies, participating in key committees such as the Turkey-EU Harmonization Committee. In 2012, she received the International Women of Courage Award from the U.S. Department of State and was named one of the World’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons by Junior Chamber International. A multilingual advocate for social equality and individual empowerment, Pavey is also one of the rare public figures who actively uses sign language.