Looking to bring the modern age of ideas to Afghanistan, TED has come to Kabul. 
 
TED, short for Technology, Entertainment, Design, is a nonprofit organization that has devoted itself to fostering “Ideas Worth Spreading.” It does so through conventional conferences, and “conversations” live-streamed via the Internet.
 
On October 11, in the Afghan capital, TEDxKabul undertook the ambitious task of hosting one of the interactive, digitally supported events in Kabul.
 
The one-day event, meant to highlight unreported stories of successful Afghan entrepreneurs and innovators, was marred from the onset by technical failures and fears over security. As a result of a weak Internet connection, the live-stream of the event was abandoned. And the security concerns led to confusion as to who, exactly, would participate, with organizers naming the speakers only as the event began.
 
But in the end, the show went on. Some 15 speakers, many of them Afghans, gave talks, performances, launched products, and held exhibitions. The speakers included internationally famous and little-known human rights advocates, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, educators, frontline medical workers, teachers, athletes, and journalists.