TOGETHER: Winners, finalists, the chief guest, and QTM Excom members after the competition.
By Our Correspondent
Making yourself heard can rarely turn the spotlight on you as well as a public speaking competition would. And when the battle gets as intense as the recent 17th Qatar Open Youth Public Speaking Championship, things get all the more exciting.
The event saw 100 students from 15 nationalities representing 14 schools. Young orators from across Qatar showcased their exceptional public speaking skills before a packed auditorium of over 125 guests at the Qatar Red Crescent Society.
Organised by Qatar Toastmasters Club, Qatar Open is a nationwide public speaking contest that is open to all high school students aged between 13 and 18 years who are residents of Qatar.
Qatar Toastmasters Club President TM Rukhsana Khan opened the event and welcomed the audience, which included Chief Guest Mohammed al-Hayder, founder of Takallam for Training and Development; and Guest of Honour, past International Director of Toastmasters International George Thomas, Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM), who started the Qatar Open back in 1997 under the name Inter School Speech Contest.
The Contest Chair and Chief Coordinator of Qatar Open 2014 Virendranath, DTM, explained the rules of the contest, a unique community initiative aimed at supporting the pillars of human development and social development under Qatar National Vision 2030.
Qatar Toastmasters Club is affiliated with Toastmasters International, the leading US-based non-profit organisation dedicated to creating effective leaders and communicators worldwide. The club meets on the first and third Sunday evening every month at Radisson Blu Hotel.
The Toastmasters mission is to empower people to find the courage to change, achieve their full potential, and ultimately share in the mission of contributing to the betterment of society.
The engrossed audience watched the 10 finalists slug it out for the title of Qatar Open Youth Public Speaking Champion 2014. The promising group comprised Aashiya Anitha, Aisha Khan, Akaash Nidhiss, Andrea Nicoles, Kevin Richardt, Rohit Chari, Shwetha Grace Eapen, Sparsh Garg, Sneha Karthik and Tarab Iqbal.
Each had succeeded against tough competition in the preliminary round and the semi-finals held at Birla Public School (BPS) in October.
The event was graced by dignitaries such as Division Q Governor TM Shyam Sunder, Division E Governor TM Nasimudheen and Area 18 Governor TM Shajil Kader. Chief Guest al-Hayder delivered an inspiring speech, addressing the budding speakers on the importance of adding value when speaking and how true victory is about winning hearts.
The panel of judges comprised seasoned toastmasters from various clubs across Qatar. Judging was based on content, delivery and language. All ten finalists delivered exceptional speeches; each one packed with thought-provoking lines.
The reigning champion Aditya Karkera announced this year’s winner Shwetha Grace Eapen, whose winning speech ‘The Little Extra’ was also the audience’s top pick.
On being declared the Qatar Open Champion, Shwetha, who studies at BPS, said, “It’s a dream come true. I stand at the top of the hill and the view is certainly the best. I am reminded of Napoleon Hill, who once said: ‘A quitter never wins and a winner never quits.’ I, now, look for my next summit.” She received the Champion’s trophy, a cash prize of QR5,000 and a winner’s certificate.
The second place winner Kevin Richardt, a student of Philippine School Doha, received a trophy, QR3,000 cash prize and a winner’s certificate. The third place winner Aashiya Anitha, also a student of BPS, received a trophy, QR1,000 cash prize and a certificate. Each of the remaining seven finalists received a cash prize of QR500 and a participation certificate.
The organisers presented mementos to the Bronze Sponsors; Intertec Group, Castle Group, Mannai Corporation and Applus+ Velosi, and the Support Sponsors; Qatar Kentz, Tanween, Qatar-UAE Exchange, Oryx Energy Projects & Services, Jumbo Electronics, Almuftah Trading & Contracting and Teyseer Group.
The Qatar Open Chairperson for 2015 Nevine Kamel revealed that the 2015 edition will begin around April 2015. At the close of the event, Khan promised the attendees an even more exciting Qatar Open next year.