Thirty-three year old Damien Mander served as a special operations sniper and clearance diver for Australia. Whilst deployed in Iraq he project managed the Iraq Special Police Training Academy, overseeing training of up to 700 cadets at one time. Following three years on the frontline of the Iraq war he departed in 2008 with no new direction in life. A trip to Africa left him face-to-face with the horrors that the world's wildlife is dealing with. Liquidating all personal assets acquired from 12 tours of duty, he founded the International Anti-Poaching Foundation. The organisation focuses on ranger training, operations and integrating modern technology into conservation. 

"Desertification is a fancy word for land that is turning to desert," begins Allan Savory in this quietly powerful talk. And terrifyingly, it's happening to about two-thirds of the world's grasslands, accelerating climate change and causing traditional grazing societies to descend into social chaos. Savory has devoted his life to stopping it. He now believes -- and his work so far shows -- that a surprising factor can protect grasslands and even reclaim degraded land that was once desert.

Roger Federer, in his capacity as President of the Roger Federer Foundation, and his mother Lynette visited the Hlukani and Govhu crèches in the Limpopo Province of South Africa in February 2013. They were given a warm reception by the children, parents, caregivers and official representatives from various authorities. The Roger Federer Foundation has partnered the locally organised READ Educational Trust since 2010.

Lethabo Ntshudisane, speaking at TEDxRhodesU in August 2012, talks about the importance of innovation for the future of Africa's children.

"The most unrecognised and under-utilised resource in Africa is its people". Tracy Hammond speaking at TEDxRhodesU in August 2012.

Steuart Pennington, CEO of SA - the Good News, speaking at TEDxRhodesU in August 2012.

Glenda Venn, speaking at TEDxRhodesU, talks about how technology can help grassroots entrepreneurs around South Africa.

Dr Rob Smorfitt, speaking at TEDxRhodesU, turns the concept of "thinking outside the box", on it's head.