I'm beyond excited to share that my TED Talk, "The Greatest Show on Earth — for Kids Who Need It Most," is now live on TED.com! This talk is deeply personal to me and reflects years of work, dreams, and collaboration through the Flying Carpet Festival, where art, music, and storytelling meet to offer joy and healing for children impacted by conflict.
In this talk, I discuss why I founded the Flying Carpet Festival and what it means to bring art to some of the most vulnerable children in the world — children growing up in areas affected by war, displacement, and social fragmentation. Many of them have known more struggle in their short lives than most of us can imagine. Yet, through the circus and the festival, these young people are discovering new ways to express themselves, build confidence, and find hope.
The Flying Carpet Festival began with a simple idea: to create a space where beauty, culture, and joy could flourish, even in the unlikeliest of places. But it’s become so much more. It’s a platform where young Syrian refugees and Turkish youth perform as artists, collaborating across cultural divides, and showing audiences that connection is possible even when society is fractured. These performances don’t just entertain; they build empathy and understanding, and they challenge us to see each other differently.
As I prepared for this TED Talk, I was reminded of the power of storytelling, of sharing a message that, I hope, resonates with everyone who believes in the transformative force of creativity. My hope is that this talk will bring more awareness to how art can be a healing force for children who have been affected by trauma and that it will encourage others to think about ways they can bring a little bit of “magic” into lives that need it.
For everyone who has been part of this journey — performers, mentors, supporters, and audiences — thank you for believing in the power of art to create change. I invite you all to watch the talk, share it, and join us in our vision for a world where every child has the opportunity to experience “the greatest show on earth.”
Thank you, TED, for giving this vision a platform, and thank you all for your support! Let’s keep spreading the magic.
Comments