Passionate about breaking the stigma around mental health, 21-year-old aviation student Neda Ismail Khan hopes to highlight the need to make well-being part of everyday conversations.
She is one of the six UAE student speakers at the +twe Talks happening on February 8 at In5 Tech, Dubai Internet City. Promoting mental well-being, forging meaningful connections, encouraging entrepreneurship, and responsible use of social media are some of the pressing topics that will be discussed at the event modelled after the popular Ted Talks.
“Even in this day and age, there is stigma around speaking about mental health,” Khan told Khaleej Times. “This despite the WHO declaring that suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15- to 29-year-olds.”
“Often, your feelings are dismissed as being unhappy or moody. I hope to raise awareness and create a safe space for the youth, so that next time when they are feeling that life is getting difficult, they know they are not alone and should reach out,” added Khan, a student at the Emirates Aviation University, Dubai.
Another speaker, Sara Afana, use “the power of small moments”. The marketing student at American University of Sharjah (AUS) will share how small everyday actions can lead to tremendous personal growth.
She shared: “I have personally experienced how small interactions can create a lasting impact — whether it was someone who said a simple ‘hi’ on my first day at a new school or gave me a moment of support during a tough time, their small actions meant everything to me.”
In a world that often glorifies big achievements and technological milestones, Afana noted “we forget the value of simple conversations and everyday kindness”.
At her talk, the audience can expect real-life stories and reflections with an aim to make the student community rethink how they perceive everyday interactions.
Ameer Alhashemi also believes in the beauty of intentional and in-person dialogue. The third-year engineering student at the University of Birmingham, Dubai, is gearing up to address the audience at +twe Talks on ways to bring back meaningful conversations in the digital age.
“Today, real conversations seem to be fading out. As we rely more on screens, we are experiencing more disconnection,” he said. “I want to encourage the youth to revive authentic and genuine conversations.”
The +twe Talks is an extension of +twe, an app dedicated to empowering students on their academic, personal and professional journeys. +twe stands for ‘Together We Empower’ and was co-founded in 2024 by former UAE-based students Osama Damati, Deemah Abdelkader and Umair Ahmed.
The app connects students to universities, scholarships, internship opportunities and expert advice.“We built +twe as we realised that students don’t just need resources. They need community and mentorship,” Damati said.
“+twe Talks is the essence of this vision to give students a free platform, where they can speak up, share their experiences, and learn from professionals. I started +twe because I too was once unsure about my future, searching for a direction and wishing for guidance to navigate my choices,” added Damati, a former AUS student.
For the upcoming +twe Talks, the co-founders have created themes to reflect the struggles the student community is facing today. “Our speakers embody the spirit of authenticity, resilience and ambition. They are not just students, they are storytellers, changemakers, and future leaders,” said Abdelkader.
Joining Khan, Afana and Alhashemi on stage will be three other students.
The student talks will be coupled with panel discussions involving HR professionals, university professors, psychologists, and enrolment experts. There will also be networking, internship opportunities, open mic, and fun games.
“The modern student is more stressed than ever before, battling peer competition, emotional health struggles, career uncertainty and the overwhelming need to figure everything out. As empowerment begins with conversations, we hope the stories will turn into lessons for them to take future action,” said Damati.
© Khaleej Times
Twitter