Who Gets to Have the ‘So’? | Syakira Reynamahira | TEDxCRIBS Youth

A 15-year-old student from Cahaya Rancamaya Islamic Boarding School, Syakira Reynamahira, uses the everyday phrase "the air was bad, so we bought an air purifier" to examine who can actually act on a problem. She argues that the word "so" assumes affordability, electricity, replacement filters and the power to respond, and asks what happens when people know a problem but cannot reach the solution. The talk is presented at a TEDx event organized independently by a local community, and the speaker says she wants innovation to focus on accessibility as well as effectiveness.

• Using a purifier at home assumes money, electricity and replacement filters
• Asks what happens when people know the problem but cannot reach the solution
• Argues innovation should be accessible to everyone, not only effective

The air in my house felt bad, so we bought an air purifier. At first, that sounds like a completely ordinary sentence. For years, I thought the important part of that sentence was the air purifier. Now, I think the most important word is "so." Because hidden inside that tiny word is something much bigger. The air was bad, so we bought a machine. That "so" assumes a lot. It assumes we could afford one. It assumes we had electricity to run it. It assumes replacement filters were available. It assumes that when we faced a problem, we had the power to do something about it. And one day, I started wondering: What happens when the air is bad... and there is no "so"? What happens when people know the problem, but cannot reach the solution? That question stayed with me. My name is Syakira Reynamahira, and I am a 15-year-old student at Cahaya Rancamaya Islamic Boarding School. I have a passion for science, technology, research, and public speaking. I enjoy exploring new ideas, solving real-world problems, and developing innovations that positively impact society. My research interests have led me to develop projects in environmental technology and artificial intelligence in healthcare, earning awards at national and international competitions. Beyond science, I participate in Model United Nations to improve my leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills. I joined TEDx because I believe ideas can inspire change, and I want to share my perspective on how innovation should focus not only on effective solutions but also on making them accessible to everyone. Through this opportunity, I hope to inspire young people to turn curiosity into meaningful actions that make a difference. 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