WFWP South London, UK - Regional Level Young Women's Speech Contest

The regional level Young Women’s Speech Contest (YWSC) organised by the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) in South London aims to provide young women with a platform to express their opinions, beliefs, and values through public speaking. The Speech Contest has been held annually since 2015, offering participants the chance to develop their public speaking skills and compete for monetary prizes.

This year’s theme is “Women Leading with Creativity - Encouraging Innovative Leadership and Governance.”

Speaker 1: Chantelle Kaaria, a film producer and community action practitioner, emphasises the importance of creativity and narrative in leadership. She discusses how women can use their emotional intelligence and intuitive leadership to make impactful decisions and foster positive societal changes. Using examples like Angela Merkel’s leadership during the refugee crisis and the Dove Real Beauty campaign, she illustrates how emotional intelligence and narrative strategies can lead to effective and humane decision-making. The speaker encourages women to embrace their emotional and intuitive strengths to create positive changes in society.

Speaker 2: Bernice Siguio highlights historical examples of women who have used creativity and resilience to overcome challenges and achieve success. She encourages women to harness their unique qualities and creativity to inspire and lead others. She emphasises that creativity provides freedom and enables women to empower themselves and others. She shares examples of women who have used creativity to overcome challenges and achieve success, such as Madam C.J. Walker, who built a successful business despite facing significant obstacles.

Speaker 3: Asho Musse, a student in Health and Social Care, shares her experiences working as a family practitioner. She discusses her role in assessing parents’ abilities to care for their children, many of whom face challenges. She shares her personal experiences and the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership. She emphasises how women can use their emotions to build deeper connections and make more accurate decisions, advocating for the value of intuitive leadership.

The event concludes with feedback from the judges, who commend the participants for their passion and engagement. The winners are announced and the first prize winner is given direct entry to the National Speech Contest in Central London.

First Prize: Chantelle Kaaria

Second Prize: Asho Musse

Third Prize: Bernice Siguio

The event highlights the importance of providing young women with opportunities to develop their leadership and public speaking skills.

Reported by Dolores Read WFWP South London Chapter Leader