Theme:
AI in the Presence “Nowgorithm” 

She’s Duha AlTabbaa. She has always loved speaking — not just talking, but saying things that make people stop for a moment and really think. She pays attention to the things most people scroll past, and she enjoys questioning what others simply accept as normal. Maybe that’s why she’s here today — because she believes some thoughts are worth saying out loud.

Her name is Ghala Sadoon Al Marayani, and she has always been curious about the world and passionate about expressing her thoughts in meaningful ways. She believes that every voice matters, no matter how young, and that words have the power to inspire change. She enjoys writing, reading, and helping her community, and she is proud to serve as an Ambassador of Sustainability in her school’s Mini SGA, where she promotes environmental awareness and positive action. She has also participated in spelling bees and poetry recitations, which have helped her build confidence and creativity. This year, her TED Talk focuses on social media and digital self-expression, exploring how what we share online reflects who we are and how technology shapes emotion, honesty, and connection. She hopes her talk encourages people to see social media not just as a place for perfection, but as a space for real feelings, stories, and truth.

His name is Ammar Hegazy, and he wants to become a game developer. As he said, he’s good at coding games. Coding games can make him a better problem solver, improve his logic and critical thinking skills, and teach him various programming languages and concepts. A few years ago, he loved talking about video games and designs because of his favorite game developer, Scott Cawthon, who made a few games like “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” and that helped him keep coding games like Scratch, Python, and Java.

Yasmeen Qawasmi has learned that failure isn’t something to fear — it’s part of discovering who you are and what you’re capable of. From freezing during her first big speech to misjudging her pace in a swim race, setbacks once felt like defeat. But they taught her patience, focus, and unexpected strength. In her talk "The Power of Mistakes", she shares how those moments sparked creativity, built confidence, and helped her see mistakes as stepping stones to growth and self-discovery.

Welcome to a glimpse of who she is. Her name is Sarah Alsayed. She is naturally someone with a strong sense of purpose. Since childhood, she has admired the art of speaking, mesmerized by how simple words shape who we are and our future. But it really began in tenth grade when she took a public speaking course at her school, which sparked her interest. The following school year, she found herself participating in several competitions. For instance, she took part in the Emirates NBD Poetry for All Competition 2025. It was truly a wonderful experience. When she was younger, she used to think that being a deep thinker was a curse, but now she can tell you it is a blessing.

Masa Banat is a passionate debater and public speaker, shaped by years of Model UN experience. As Head of the MUN and Law Club and Chief of Staff in Student Congress, she’s led events and built community. She thrives on collaboration, won the iOS competition, and loves exploring new ideas. Her TED Talk, The Hidden Ways Our Biases Shape Our Decisions, invites reflection on how unconscious biases shape our choices. Masa is committed to growing as a communicator, leader, and changemaker.

Her name is Mariam, and she has always been driven by curiosity—about people, about culture, and about the future we are building. She believes that our identity defines us and our choices shape the world around us. That belief led her to explore the connection between tradition and modern innovation. Today, she hopes to inspire others to think differently about the tools we hold and the future we choose to create.

Mariam has always loved expressing herself through jewelry — to her, it’s more than just accessories; it’s how she shows pieces of her personality without saying much. But her biggest love has always been reading, especially books about psychology, because she loves understanding how people think and why they do what they do. She can still remember staying up all night finishing a psychological book because she just couldn’t put it down — it completely changed how she thinks about people. She guesses that’s what she loves most: finding meaning, whether it’s in a story, a person, or even something as simple as the jewelry she wears.

Kareem El Damanhoury is a secondary industrial engineering student at the American University in Sharjah (AUS). Passionate about music and performance, he has preformed in numerous events, including multiple Model United Nations and TEDxINPSAA Youth, showcasing his talent on stage. As an active member of the Egyptian Cultural Club at AUS, Kareem continues to celebrate creativity and cultural expression through music.