Technology Entertainment and Design (TED) Conferences has announced that applications to its 2019 TED Fellowship program are now open.
The organization is looking for "extraordinary thinkers and doers" as well as "innovators on the rise in their respective fields" with "bold, original work".
Every year, the TED Fellows program selects a new cohort to join their already existing fellows across the globe.
According to the announcement, only 20 people will be admitted into the fellowship and these must be above 18 years. "We welcome anyone over the age of 18 to apply and choose 20 Fellows to attend each TED Conference," reads part of the guidelines.
TED looks for people who are thought leaders and action-oriented in their respective fields and regions.
"Instead of business people, professionals, policy workers and government officials, the TED Fellows program focuses on doers, makers, inventors, advocates, filmmakers and photographers, musicians and artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, NGO heads, and human rights activists."
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The application cycle is 2 months and kicked off on June 26 and will close on August 26th.
According to TED, they have over 450 fellows spread across 90 countries. And, of the 20 fellows admitted last year, 3 were Africans. That is Saran Kaba Jones (Liberia), Faith Osier (Kenya) and Yasin Kakande (Uganda).
Some of the notable African TED fellows include Fred Swaniker (African Leadership Network), Ndubuisi Ekekwe (Harvard Business Review Contributor) and Boniface Mwangi.
Founded in 1984, TED is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to "spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less)".
It began as a conference where Technology, Entertainment, and Design converged. But, today it covers almost all topics. Ranging from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages.
Additionally, there are other independently run events called TEDx that carry TED branding. TEDx events have been happening in Kampala towards the end of the year for the past few years. This year, the event will take place in October at Kyambogo University.