This year’s TEDxUWCAdriatic conference was a powerful event that brought to life the theme Hope in Action — which also shapes the focus of this Social Report. From planning, to training peers in public speaking, the team curated a superbly well-run event that reflected the values we share at UWC Adriatic: courage, empathy and the drive to make a difference. The talks offered deeply personal insights into how change begins — in thought, word and action.
In Breaking Walls 101, Nikolina explored how imagined divisions can harden into real barriers — not rivers to cross but walls we construct ourselves. Reflecting on the legacy of conflict in the former Yugoslavia, she examined how prejudice, propaganda and silence block understanding. She urged the audience to look beyond these walls — to recognise what, and who, lies on the other side — and to take responsibility for dismantling them. Hope, she argued, only becomes powerful when turned into action
Rawane addressed mental health and neurodivergence, exposing the silence and lack of support that surround them. Drawing from personal and collective experiences, she urged listeners to act, not wait. “A broken arm? We act. A broken mind? We say: ‘Wait.’
Maho introduced the audience to mottainai, a traditional concept of reverence for resources rooted in gratitude and humility. Her talk invited a shift in mindset — from waste to respect.
Ege took on the climate crisis by calling for small but consistent acts of Ege (Turkey) environmental responsibility, stressing that “change is not a jump from zero to one hundred… perhaps just a slow but constant movement.
Anesa introduced the audience to mottainai, a traditional concept of reverence for resources rooted in gratitude and humility. Her talk invited a shift in mindset — from waste to respect.
Teodora reflected on travel as a journey of inner transformation. Encounters with others, she explained, can dismantle stereotypes, redefine identity and spark a deeper sense of justice. “You’re not just travelling to a new place — but to a new version of yourself.
