In the inspiring TEDx talk “How Our Homeland Shapes Our Dreams,” Yahya Al Batta, a 17-year-old Palestinian student from Gaza, shares his deeply emotional journey of resilience and hope. Despite the harsh realities of living in one of the world’s most challenging environments, Al Batta captures the profound connection between identity and homeland. He reflects on how Gaza, often overlooked in beauty and wealth, embodies a history of strength and endurance that shapes dreams.
Through personal anecdotes, including his family’s struggles and the symbolic significance of olive trees in Palestinian culture, he demonstrates that even in adversity, beauty and kindness thrive. Al Batta recounts his harrowing experience of evacuation to Egypt during the war, leading to his new life in India. His dream to become a doctor embodies his desire to rebuild his homeland, reinforcing the theme that our roots deeply influence our aspirations. He challenges the audience to reflect on their own connections to their homelands and the dreams they nurture, reminding us that often, the toughest environments cultivate the strongest dreamers.
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Author Video Description
Gaza, my homeland, has defined who I am, my dreams for myself, and my dream for the world. Gaza is the unconquerable soul of the Palestinian identity. Gaza has taught me the value and meaning of life. Gaza has made me resilient. My journey from evacuation to Kodaikanal made me grow up in ways I couldn’t imagine, and also exposed me to the world beyond Gaza for the very first time in my life. Yahya AlBatta is a 17-year-old Palestinian student from Gaza. After evacuating from Gaza to Egypt due to the ongoing terrible genocide in his country, he received a scholarship to continue his education at Kodaikanal International School in India a year later. He is now studying the IB Diploma Program. He is passionate about medicine and dream of becoming a doctor, so that he can one day serve his people and help rebuild Gaza. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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TEDx is an international community that organizes TED-style events anywhere and everywhere — celebrating locally-driven ideas and elevating them to a global stage. TEDx events are produced independently of TED conferences, each event curates speakers on their own, but based on TED’s format and rules.
Video “How Our Homeland Shapes Our Dreams | Yahya Al Batta | TEDxKodaikanal International School Youth” was uploaded on 10/13/2025 to Youtube Channel TEDx Talks