Theme: Fail and Sail: Learning from Mistakes

Failure is a key part of what makes us human. However, how do we learn and develop from our past failures, and use them to sail brightly into the future? We welcome you to TEDxAmerican School of Marrakesh, a youth event focused on answering this exact question.
Throughout the event, a plethora of topics will be discussed by inspiring and diverse speakers, primarily students, who each have an important story to share. These topics range from sciences, the arts, culture, and societal issues as a whole. They will provide the inspiration we all need to overcome the hurdles built by our mistakes and failures, and push the boundaries of what it means to 'fail'.
We cordially invite you to be a part of this event, where we use our failures to sail to success.

American School of Marrakesh
Route De Ouarzazate (Km 9)
Bp 6195
Marrakesh, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, 40000
Morocco

Amine Haqqaoui

Civil Engineer

Amine Haqqaoui, based in Morocco, is currently a Founder and Managing Partner at Rstone Capital. Amine Haqqaoui brings experience from previous roles at Upside Systems, Barclays Investment Bank, Assibat and Lehman Brothers. Amine Haqqaoui holds a Masters from Columbia University in the City of New York. With a robust skill set that includes Mergers & Acquisitions, Valuation, Strategy, Private Equity, Investment Banking and more.

Aya Raqim

UM6P Medical Student

Perfection is often celebrated as the ultimate goal, but it can quietly become a barrier to real success. As a medical student and someone who has struggled deeply with perfectionism, Aya knows firsthand how the fear of making mistakes can limit growth and prevent us from taking the very risks that lead to greatness. This talk invites us to rethink success, embrace imperfection, and find freedom in failure.

David Eisenthal

IBDP STUDENT - ASM

I am David Eisenthal, an Grade 11 IB Student from ASM. As someone who's personally not failed a major failure in life, only often acquainted with those that are petty, I've thought of attempting to tackle this topic and idea from a more objective, somewhat scientific perspective, allowing myself to outline the process of failure, its effects, and how we as humans aim to move forward from it. I'm hoping that my speech can let off a little bit about me personally, so as to become acquainted with my audience, and to not only inspire my audience but also educate them on the process behind failing and sailing, so all can leave with a new perspective, or at least a new idea.

Elizabeth Mueni Kimende

ASM Teacher and Author of Journeys and Stories

I am Elizabeth Mueni Kimende. I was born in the beautiful Coastal Region of Mombasa Kenya. I am a passionate educator who loves working with children, a journey that has seen me teach in five different countries across Africa. I am a full time working mother of three and the Author of Journeys and Stories. I am currently teaching at The American School of Marrakesh. When I'm not teaching, you'll find me reading, painting or cooking.

Ilyas Idderhem

AST Student - Future Doctors of Morocco/Moroccan Humanitarian Aid Program Founder

I’m Ilyas Idderhem, a senior at the American School of Tangier. From a young age, I’ve been passionate about creating meaningful change and helping my country reach its full potential. With this vision in mind, I founded the first two nation-wide high school programs in Morocco dedicated to humanitarian aid and medical humanitarian aid. Through these initiatives, I’ve collaborated with teenagers across the country and individuals from diverse backgrounds to empower the youth of Morocco. By sharing the stories of the unique and inspiring people around me, I aim to motivate this event’s audience to embrace various perspectives and philosophies. I believe this can lead to personal growth and contribute to the broader mission of my programs: empowering the youth of Morocco.

Janna Lahmamsi

GRADE 12 STUDENT - ASM

Hello! My name is Janna Lahmamsi, a senior at ASM. I’m excited to announce that I will be a speaker at the TEDx event, as well as Head of Finance. The topic of this event is "Fail & Sail: Learning from Mistakes", so I will be sharing my thoughts on whether or not failure is a real thing. I’m very excited, and can’t wait to share this experience with everyone!

Karima Bakhnach

UM6P Nursing Student

I’m Karima Bakhnach, a second-year nursing student at UM6P, and in my TEDx talk, I will share a deeply personal journey through mental health struggles. I’ll speak about the challenges I faced, the isolation I experienced, and how I managed to overcome it and emerge stronger. I chose this topic because I believe it’s crucial to prioritize our mental health just as we do our physical health, as mental health challenges are often overlooked. My talk is an invitation to those who are struggling to understand that they are not alone and that recovery is possible. And I’m here to empower individuals to take charge of their mental health, seek help when needed, and break the stigma that too often surrounds mental health struggles. Through my story, I aim to inspire a culture of openness, resilience, and support.

Mouad Tijani

Deputy Head of School

Mouad holds a Bachelor of Education from Roger Williams University, RI USA and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, Advanced IB Studies from George Mason University. Mouad is an alumnus of the U.S. Fulbright Scholar Program. With over a decade of experience in the professional field, especially with education, he believes that setbacks are essential for building resilience and sparking innovation. In his TEDx talk, Mouad will explore how failure can be a powerful force for personal and professional transformation—encouraging us all to "fail and sail" toward success.