Waheed Ameer

Activist, Connector, Doctor, Event planner, Idea generator, Social entrepreneur, Startup

Social activist and community leader. Founding member of the "Shababna" campaign (2015), which expanded to over 25 cities across Iraq. Co-founder of several educational, humanitarian, and volunteer initiatives benefiting around 100 individuals annually.

I'm passionate about empowering youth through community-driven initiatives, creating inclusive learning environments, and using volunteerism as a tool for social transformation. I believe that meaningful change begins when people — especially the younger generation — are trusted to lead.

“Teenagers aren't the leaders of tomorrow they're leaders now.” When trusted, trained, and empowered, teens can launch global initiatives, shape communities, and lead with fresh vision. The world needs to stop underestimating their potential.

My journey with TED began as a listener, drawn to the powerful ideas and inspiring stories shared on its platform. These talks opened my eyes to the impact that a single idea can have on communities and individuals worldwide. Motivated by this, I started to focus more on empowering youth and building grassroots movements in my own community. TED showed me that storytelling is a catalyst for change and that everyone has the potential to influence the world around them. This realization has shaped my path, pushing me to create initiatives that amplify voices and spread hope, especially among young people.

People don’t know I’m good at connecting diverse individuals with shared values, transforming chaotic ideas into structured projects, and building trust quickly even in the most challenging communities.