WFWP in Birmingham holds the Young Women's Speech Contest

On Tuesday July 12th, WFWP in Birmingham held the Young Women’s Speech Contest. Seven young women, from Christian, Muslim and Hindu backgrounds, spoke on the topic of ‘Mother Earth, Our Home. Connect Protect and Care’, to an audience of around 50 women in person, and 20 online. Quite a number of the young women’s mothers and sisters came to support them, many of whom are members of our Birmingham Women’s Peace Group. Several organisations were represented including the Chair of the UK Islamic Mission, the Chair of the Sikh UK Forum, AMAL Hope Foundation, and ROOTS, an east African organisation. We also had the privilege of Ruth Shire being with us, a 101 year-old ‘peace activist’, who spoke with the young participants and gave them a lot of inspiration!. While the judges discussed, we were treated to a cultural programme of music and songs from around the world, in a very joyful atmosphere.

The 3 judges, a Christian Minister, a TV presenter, and a counsellor/therapist, found it hard to choose a winner, as all the young women did so well, speaking with such passion and sincerity. In the end they chose Arushi Madan, who not only spoke well but has also developed a small project converting car and bicycle tyres into tables!

Everyone who spoke was a winner, having the courage and commitment to speak publicly on such an occasion, and all the participants received a certificate, as well as monetary prizes of £50, £40, £30 and £10, and were congratulated by Rani Gundhu, the longest-serving woman police officer in the West Midlands, who is responsible for the training of all police cadets.

Several of the young women have said they will apply for the national YWSC in October. We are really grateful for this wonderful project, which gives the young women the opportunity to build confidence, develop their skills, and make new friends in the process!

Patricia Earle: Recording of the Young Women’s Speech Contest in Birmingham. us02web.zoom,us/rec/share/QLXOwxwGvWNjc- 3NzM0ysgOW86zaDyBusTPcClN4xF9ArUw7felMe8g395IOSkcl.DQGjdcpvljYphh2O Passcode: S2?zSd+s