Percy Tussamba: From Displacement to Empowerment – The Power of Sport, Community, and a Bold TED Talk Dream

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• From Angola to the UK: Percy Tussamba’s Turbulent Journey
• Discovering the Transforming Power of Sport
• Building Community for Refugees
• The Big Idea: From Personal Story to TED Talk
• Preparing for the TED Stage
• Themes of Resilience, Belonging, and Hope
• Legacy: One Story, Many Lives

Percy Tussamba was born in Angola, but after a very turbulent time for his family, was forced to leave his home and ended up in the UK. Faced with the challenge of starting a new life in an unfamiliar place, he found a sport that changed his life. Now he wants to share his experience and help build community for other refugees, helping them establish themselves and thrive. Follow along as he prepares and delivers his big idea in a moving TED Talk, bringing him one step closer to making his dream a reality. This video is part of “My Big Idea,” a new series from TED that documents the process of imagining and then creating a TED Talk, featuring first-time speakers and ideas new to the TED stage.

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Percy Tussamba’s early life in Angola was marked by instability and conflict. Like many families during periods of political unrest and violence in the region, the Tussambas faced difficult choices. Eventually, the family was forced to flee, embarking on a journey filled with uncertainty, loss, and the painful process of leaving behind everything familiar.

Arriving in the United Kingdom as a refugee presented a whole new set of challenges. Percy had to navigate a new lang, culture, education system, and social environment. The sense of displacement, isolation, and the pressure to adapt quickly weighed heavily. For many refugees, this period is characterized by trauma, identity struggles, and the search for belonging. Percy’s story is one of shh determination amid these obstacles. Rather than being defined solely by hardship, he began seeking outlets for resilience and connection. It was during this vulnerable transition that he discovered a sport that would become his anchor and catalyst for transformation.

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In the UK, Percy found solace and purpose on the sports field. The specific sport—often a team game like football (soccer)—offered more than physical exercise. It provided structure, teamwork, friendship, and a sense of achievement. For a young person uprooted from his homeland, sport became a universal lang that transcended barriers of nationality, accent, or background.

Through training, matches, and club involvement, Percy developed discipline, confidence, and leadership skills. The camaraderie of teammates helped combat loneliness, while the physical demands offered a healthy outlet for stress and emotional turmoil. Many refugees and immigrants report similar experiences: sport acts as a bridge to integration, improving mental health, fostering social bonds, and creating opportunities for personal growth.

Percy’s transformation was profound. What started as a coping mechanism evolved into a passion and a mission. He realized that the benefits he experienced could be replicated for others facing similar journeys. This realization planted the seed for his future work in commune building.

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Inspired by his own path, Percy Tussamba has dedicated himself to creating supportive networks for refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. His vision goes beyond basic assistance. He aims to build holistic communities that address practical needs—such as lang learning, employment support, and culture orientation—while also nurturing emotional well-being and long-term thriving.

Through grassroots initiatives, sports programs, workshops, and mentorship, Percy helps newcomers establish roots. These programs emphasize empowerment rather than charity. Participants gain skills, confidence, and connections that help them contribute to society while preserving their cultural identities. Percy’s approach recognizes that successful integration is mutual: refugees enrich their new communities with diverse perspectives, resilience, and talent.

His work highlights a critical gap in many refugee support systems, which often focus on immediate survival rather than sustained flourishing. By leveraging sport as a core element, Percy creates inclusive spaces where barriers dissolve and friendships form naturally.

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Percy’s “My Big Idea” journey with TED represents a pivotal moment. Selected as part of a series documenting first-time speakers, he is crafting a talk that weaves his personal narrative with broader insights on displacement, resilience, and the role of sport in healing and integration.

The process of developing a TED Talk is intense. It requires distilling complex experiences into a compelling 18-minute narrative, backed by clear ideas, emotional authenticity, and a call to action. Percy’s talk will likely explore how sport can serve as a powerful tool for refugee empowerment, challenging audiences to think differently about integration and community support.

Documenting this preparation through the “My Big Idea” series adds transparency and relatable nuance. Viewers witness the vulnerables, revisions, coaching, and self-doubt that go into creating a memorable presentation. This behind-the-scenes view humanizes the speaker and makes the final talk even more impressionable.

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Preparing for TED involves multiple layers. Percy has worked on refining his story, practicing delivery, managing nerves, and ensuring his message resonates universally. Coaches help with structure, pacing, and view elements, while Percy draws deeply from his lived experience to maintain authenticity.

Challenges include balancing emotional rawness with professional polish and translating personal anecdotes into actionable ideas. The stakes feel high: a successful TED Talk can amplify a cause, open doors for funding and partnerships, and inspire widespread change.

Percy’s preparation also involves connecting with other refugees, gathering testimonials, and researching data on sport’s benefits. This rigorous approach ensures the talk is both heartfelt and evidence-based.

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At its core, Percy’s message centers on resilience—the human capacity to rebuild after trauma. He emphasizes belonging as a fundamental need and shows how sport creates pathways to it. Hope emerges as the driving force: even in darkness, small opportunities like joining a team can spark profound change.

These themes are universal. Audiences worldwide can relate to feelings of displacement, either through migration, personal loss, or culture shifts. Percy’s story offers a blueprint for turning adversity into advocacy.

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Percy Tussamba’s journey from Angolan refugee to community builder and TED speaker is inspirational. His work has already touched many lives through direct programs and will reach thousands more via the TED platform.

The long-term legacy lies in systemic change: more inclusive sports initiatives, better refugee support policies, and a societal shift toward viewing newcomers as assets. By sharing his story, Percy challenges stereotypes and fosters empathy.

As he steps onto the TED stage, Percy carries the hopes of many. His talk is not just a presentation—it is a call to action for individuals, organizations, and governments to invest in the power of sport and community for displaced people everywhere.