Pan American School Students Organize TEDxYouth@PAS at TECNOPUC

On March 24, 2025, students from the Pan American School (PAS) organized TEDxYouth@PAS at TECNOPUC, an independently organized TED event sponsored by PAS’s National Honor Society. Following the TEDxYouth format, the event featured talks aimed at encouraging reflection and positive change in society.

With the theme “Reimagining Tomorrow,” the program addressed contemporary challenges and explored paths to overcoming adversity, fostering inclusion, and driving innovation. The event brought together speakers from various fields, including renowned professionals and members of the school community, who shared their personal experiences and insights.

Among the speakers were:

• Ms. Claudia Bartelle, philanthropist, who shared her personal journey through cancer, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity;
   
• Mr. Claudio Goldsztein, entrepreneur, who spoke about the impact of the Instituto Cultural Floresta and institutional partnerships that strengthen public safety and education in Rio Grande do Sul;
   
• Ms. Daniela Giffoni, Executive Director of Arquitetos Voluntários, who discussed strategies to mitigate the effects of the 2024 floods in the state of Rio Grande do Sul;
   
• Mr. Fernando Brites, PAS teacher, who addressed the power and impact of youth leadership;
   
• Mr. João Henrique Ferreira, PAS student, who shared his experience leading the social project “Basketball for All”;
   
• Dr. Marta Hemb, pediatric neurologist, who discussed the educational challenges faced by children diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia.
   

For João Henrique Ferreira, who was actively involved in organizing and also spoke at the event, “TEDxYouth@PAS is a community event, but above all, it’s an event by students, for students.” According to him, the experience offered a new perspective on what matters to students and sparked important reflections about the future. “Seeing our work turn into something so meaningful was incredibly rewarding,” he said. When presenting his project, he emphasized, “Something as seemingly simple as our love for basketball turned into a way to give back,” highlighting the potential of personal interests to evolve into impactful social initiatives.