Beyond the Classroom — How Sport, Performance and Voice Build Extraordinary Young People
Panel DISCUSSION
The Conversation
The schools that produce the most remarkable human beings are rarely just academically excellent. They are places where students discover who they are — through competition, performance and finding their voice. This session celebrates the schools that have understood, structurally, that sport, arts and oracy are not add-ons. They are how young people discover what they are capable of.
Speakers
Arya Chitra General Manager, Nikon Youth Program Arya is the General Manager of the Nikon Youth Program across MENA and India, leading photography education initiatives that empower young people through creativity and visual storytelling. She works with schools, universities, and organisation to design impactful, hands-on learning experiences that build technical skills, confidence, and future-ready creative thinking.
Muberra Semin IB Music Educator, ACS Doha International School Muberra is a Music Educator with over 15 years of international teaching experience. A published author, choir performer, and certified Kodály educator, she is passionate about using music, performance, and student voice to build confidence, creativity, and meaningful connections beyond the classroom.
Danny O'Brien Education Facilitator, Drumhill Event Management Danny is a stand-up comedian and education facilitator with 16+ years’ performance experience and a background in youth work and social care. He adapts stand-up, improvisation, and storytelling into evidence-informed interventions that boost student confidence, public speaking, and collaboration while reducing participation anxiety. His workshops make complex topics accessible, strengthen classroom relationships, and foster critical thinking. Danny has delivered programmes for universities, schools, youth services, and the Irish Prison Service, equipping participants with humour-based icebreakers, storytelling tools, positive-feedback techniques, and energy-management strategies. His approach creates psychologically safe learning environments that encourage risk-taking, authentic expression, and lasting engagement in educational settings.
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