TEDxCapeTown volunteer experience

I tried to explain what a TED Talk is by using words such as 'global', 'independent', 'ideas worth spreading' and 'no political or marketing branding giants' involvement', but still produced no sparkle in their eyes. I kept my hopes up and finally had one person congratulate me on getting into volunteering for TEDxCapeTown, and there I saw the sparkle I was looking for.

This fantastic event, and the recorded TEDx Talks that live online afterwards, need to be spread... so listen up peeps.

Seas of change

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Change is possible

The nautical pirate theme was a fitting choice to match the choppy Western Cape seas of change and the independently sailed ships of a pirate. This event was truly legendary and a cataclysm for change in a positive way.

Bright and early

My alarm went off at 5am that Saturday morning of 20 July. Luckily they said that I only had to wear black because I would be late if I had to think of a perfect outfit.

Upon arrival at the Baxter I saw the desired sparkle in everyone else's eyes. We were briefed at 6am and handed small badges, a red X, to feel part of the global community of open minded and creative thinkers.

The coffee came a bit late but after a muffin and bottomless coffee I was ready to put my pirate hat on. As a student of a BA Communication Science degree at UNISA, I was hoping to gain an interactive experience. The introductions were busy and the energy from the twenty or so bright and enthusiastic volunteers kept us all alert.

I was hungry for every sentence spoken out loud. And they were loud. All the volunteers were assigned a specific task such as setting up the registration tables and welcoming the crowd of people rushing to get their seats.

Other volunteers assisted with the bookstore which sold books written and signed by the speakers as well as CDs from Shannon Hope and Craig Hinds of Watershed, both of whom delivered their TEDx Talk on stage.

The ticket to TEDxCapeTown was R350, including breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks, but as a volunteer we worked for a free ticket and had access to the talks in our time between tasks. My duties were to check on the viewing parties, the people from all over the world who were livestreaming the event for free and watching the talks on the simulcast.

A few weeks before the event, TEDxCapeTown encouraged people to organise their own viewing parties on the day giving those in and out of Cape Town the opportunity to join in on the fun.

Alphabet Soup

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Amazing people, crazy places

There were twenty speakers in total all deserving of a standing ovation. The TEDxCapeTown 2013 event title 'Amazing People, Crazy Places' kept me wondering, what should a person be doing to be considered an amazing person?

Of the four sessions, each with five speakers, I will be highlighting my favourite talks of the day.

Session 1: The best version of ourselves

The volunteers' seats were reserved at the back of the theatre and I had all the speakers' Twitter handles ready, thanks to the informative programme.

The first speaker was Nic Haralambous (@nicharry) and I tweeted, 'Being content with being average is not what Nic wants us to be' and 'Our careers and lives need to be a subway map and not a direct route', encouraging us to find our own interconnecting path in life.

The second speaker fascinated me as she was introduced as a radical feminist. Shabashni Moodley (@shabash) walked proudly on stage with vigour. I swiftly received a LOL from @Shabash by tweeting 'Greenpapers? What's she on about?' and received my answer appreciating that no one took offence and my question was answered regardless of the ignorance.

We were tweeting for two days about greenpapers - apparently it needs to be debated people. Shabashni informed me about the post school education and training greenpaper that will eventually become an official whitepaper. It is up to the public to debate a greenpaper, once released, to challenge and debate blind spots before it becomes a whitepaper.

Shannon Hope

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Session 2: Perspectives on our ecosystems

The second session offered the next five speakers informing us about change and sustainable ideas. There was Adrian Saville (@adriansaville) promoting that South Africa's problem is not education but mobility.

Leonie Joubert (@leoniejoubert) stated that cities are making us fat and sick and that sugar is the new taboo. Johnny Anderton (@eternallysolar) gave us hope to eradicate informal settlements using the ekhaya house project.

And the brave Shannon Hope (@shannonhope) put on a performance that will make you shed a tear but such an amazing story, and the ShoOops guy (@johnmcinroy) wearing his red socks for charity.

MSG is good

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Session 3: Think again

The Whispers of Wisdom (@whisperzofwiz) team dug deep into our hearts with their poetry, shedding light on the struggles they faced, followed by a peculiar man wearing a hat.

It was the third session that made me really sit up and listen to the man with a funny name, Ivo Vegter (@ivovegter) and yes, it is his real name. I thought I would be hearing yet another environmentalist theory or something new that is bad for me but his introduction was excellent by stating that MSG is not bad for you.

Ivo was brave enough to challenge the mind instead of affirming what is already out there by going against the hypocrisies of food labelling and fracking to mention a few hot topics. My favourite part of the talk was when Ivo confirmed that MSG is just a plant extract from the sea. I cannot be happier about this news.

Session 4: A brighter future

The fourth session presented amongst others, Craig Hinds (@craigwhinds) from the South African band Watershed talking to us in chords and Karen Dudley (@lovethekitchen), from the popular restaurant known as 'the-one-who-Michelle-Obama-visited', who made the audience a 'Love sandwich' with ingredients such as love potion which reminded me of a Roald Dahl character.

Final thoughts

TEDxCapeTown creates a sense of people from all walks of life coming together to just talk openly. The buzz in the theatre inspired me even more to be part of a communication platform for open discussion and listening to fundamental topics such as education, mobility, critical thinking, feedback and knowledge retention addressing the hard issues presently happening in South Africa.

We need to challenge each other, yet motivate, inspire and mentor those with a sparkle in their eyes because it is the sparkles that start the fire of change and leadership.

Twitter wall

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This was not just another event with goody bags and all kinds of branding because TEDxCapeTown spoke volumes for itself. One of the speakers, Davey du Plessis (@daveyduplessis) indicated that we have to 'find our spot', meaning that we have to find another person that can or has made an impression on us and connect, something like the 'pay it forward' concept.

TEDxCapeTown braved the winter morning and shared their thoughts, dreams and knowledge with those who took the time to acknowledge the benefit of connecting with another human being. Being opinionated and daring for change or 'rocking the boat' should be encouraged in our democratic society and TEDxCapeTown made me feel part of that society.

You may take a look at all my insights and snippets of what was mentioned by the speakers on the day (@CoereneVosloo). I dare you to share your thoughts about the talks on (@TEDxCapeTown) and track, and continue, the conversations #tedxct.

Thank you TEDxCapeTown team! I can't wait to watch more TEDx Talks online.

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