TEDxShar e Naw

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Abdul Samad Saba

  Digital Creative & Communications Specialist

  Abdul Samad Saba has an educational background in business and technology and brings over a decade of experience working with national and international organizations. His work spans digitalization, communications, and business and technology development, where he focuses on leveraging innovation to improve systems, organizations, and impact.

• Abdulhadi Achakzai

  Climate Change Activist

  Abdulhadi Achakzai is a climate change activist, researcher, and advocate with over 15 years of experience working with NGOs and the United Nations in Afghanistan. He is the founder and Chief Executive Director of the EPTDO Organization and has represented climate initiatives at several UN international conferences, including COP27, COP29, and COP16 (UNCCD), with virtual participation in COP28 and COP30.

• Ahmad Siar Ahmadyar

  Artist

  Ahmad Siar Ahmadyar is an Afghan artist proficient in painting, drawing, and graphic design. He graduated from school in 2012 and subsequently pursued his passion for art by enrolling at the Institute of Fine Arts. After two years of intensive study, he furthered his education at Kabul University, specializing in the Art Faculty. Siyar holds a bachelor's degree in calligraphy and a master's degree in visual arts. Currently, he focuses on graphic arts and digital art, showcasing his talent and creativity in these mediums.

• Asif Foulad

  Humanitarian Development Practitioner

  Mohammad Asif Foulad is a humanitarian development practitioner and leadership professional from Afghanistan with over a decade of experience in national and international organizations. Born in Badghis province, he holds an MBA from Kardan University and a Master’s degree in Management from KAFU University (Kazakhstan). Asif has served in senior roles including Country Director for international NGOs, Education Director, Policy Advisor, and university lecturer, and is the founder of Change to Improve Life Organization (CILO), a national NGO focused on economic development and social transformation.

• Daniyal Asi

  Media Specialist, Poet, Writer

  Daniyal Asi is a media specialist, poet, and writer, born in Kabul, Afghanistan. He began his academic journey studying Persian Language and Literature at Kabul University, but due to circumstances, transitioned into media and cultural work. As a media specialist, he produces documentaries and educational content that reflect Afghan identity, heritage, and resilience. Through poetry, storytelling, and film, Daniyal is committed to preserving cultural memory and sparking dialogue around language, literature, and social change.

• Habiburrahman Abed

  Country Coordinator of UNV

  With over a decade of experience with NGOs and the United Nations in Afghanistan, Mr Abed has worked in complex and fragile contexts, exploring how communities sustain themselves when resources and formal systems are limited. Currently serving as Country Coordinator for United Nations Volunteers in Afghanistan, he focuses on volunteerism as a survival system—one that quietly underpins humanitarian action, development, and community well-being. In this talk, he invites the audience to reconsider volunteerism not as an optional act of goodwill, but as a fundamental way societies endure.

• Hella Amarkhil

  Educator

  Hella Amarkhil is an educator and social impact leader with experience working with international organizations such as Amala and CMCAN, as well as local organizations including Veyaarh Holding Group, and grassroots initiatives focused on youth and women’s empowerment. She is the founder of Beacon of Hope, an organization dedicated to expanding access to education through e-learning and capacity-building programs. She teaches English and provides counseling for English proficiency exams at Rumi Academy and Omid Afghanistan Educational Center. Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Hella is passionate about leveraging e-learning as a tool to create equitable and lasting educational opportunities.

• Homayun Falak

  Public Speaker

  Homayun Falak is an educator, entrepreneur, and public speaker with a passion for empowering others through knowledge and communication. A graduate of Habiba High School, he is currently studying Business Economics at Avicenna University and Computer Science at the University of the People. Specializing in international English proficiency tests such as TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo, he has helped numerous students achieve their academic and professional goals through his teaching at Avicenna Language Center, TOEFL Town Institute, and his own online academy. In addition to his work as an instructor, he is an entrepreneur constantly seeking innovative ways to make an impact in education and language learning.

• Mohammad Sideeq Shams

  Media Professional & Voice Actor

  Mohammad Sideeq Shams is a media professional and voice actor whose career spans nearly two decades across Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, and Turkey. He began his work in media in 2006 and later received professional dubbing training in Iran under Master Nasrollah Medghalchi. Shams has worked in dubbing, production, and media management with organizations including TV One, Khurshid TV, BBC, Sputnik Russia, and RELUX TV Turkey. Between 2023 and 2025, he also served as the host of the “Life Podcast,” where he explored personal growth, social issues, and lived experience through conversation. In 2014, he was recognized as Afghanistan’s Best Male Dubbing Voice.

• Mozhdah Babakerkhil

  IT Engineer & Advocate for Digital Education

  Mozhdah Babakerkhil is a computer science graduate from Kabul University and an advocate for digital education and equitable access to learning. She has worked extensively with Darakht-e Danesh Academy to design and implement educational programs for learners in low-resource and high-risk environments. Drawing on firsthand experience with disrupted education—particularly for girls—Mozhdah focuses on developing flexible, community-driven, and innovative learning solutions that foster resilience and support lifelong learning.

• Narges Bader

  Entrepreneur

  Narges Bader is an entrepreneur and creative leader based in Kabul, Afghanistan, working at the intersection of handmade fashion, creative industries, and women’s empowerment. She is the co-founder of Glossy Fashion, a women-led handmade fashion brand that has created employment opportunities for dozens of Afghan women and connects local artisans with global markets. Her work has helped introduce modern approaches to branding, packaging, and artisanal production within Afghanistan’s handmade fashion sector. Narges has collaborated with international programs, including UNDP, and her work has been featured by regional and international media.

• Nargis Qorbani

  Technologist

  Nargis Qorbani is a 19-year-old student and emerging technologist from Afghanistan with a strong interest in robotics and digital innovation. A member of the Sepidan Organization’s robotics team, she is currently pursuing the Amala Global Secondary Diploma (GSD) after her formal schooling was disrupted due to restrictions. Alongside her academic journey, Nargis has participated in international programs including the Nobel International Internship, UNITAR Youth Ambassador Program (Asia Pacific), Amala Learning Bridge, and Creative Writing for Social Change. She is also engaged in voluntary teaching and youth initiatives that combine technology, storytelling, and leadership.

• Naser Sezavar

  Musician

  Naser Sezavar is a visionary musician and cultural preservationist who serves as a modern bridge to the ancient world through his mastery of the duduk, a 3,000-year-old woodwind instrument often called the "soul of the apricot tree." His work transcends simple performance, evolving into a form of sonic archaeology that excavates deep human emotion and spiritual stillness. By blending the haunting, vocal-like timbre of the duduk with contemporary digital storytelling. Most recently, his artistry gained international acclaim through a collaboration with the Justiniani Gilgamesh collection, where his performance of "Hol Ara Yeze" (Call of the Earth) synchronized the precision of luxury horology with the primal echoes of Mesopotamian history. Sezavar stands at the intersection of tradition and innovation, proving that the breath of the past is essential for grounding the modern spirit.

• Yasamin Hussaini

  Technologist

  Yasmin Hosseini is a student at High Bluff Academy with a strong interest in technology and applied learning. She is a member of the Sepidan Organization’s robotics team, where she has developed skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and designing practical projects. Alongside her academic studies, Yasmin is pursuing programming courses to expand her technical skill set and prepare for future academic and professional pathways.