An Ealing student scooped top prize in the regional finals of a public speaking contest.
Kareena Talwar from the Alec Reed Academy in Northolt won the Ealing final of Jack Petchey’s ‘Speak Out’ Challenge held at Brentside High School in Greenford Avenue yesterday (January 13).
Kareena impressed the judges with her winning speech ‘The F Word’ fighting off stiff competition from 14 other young speakers in the area aged 14-15.
She said: “This was the most nerve-wracking and influential process for a youth.”
After just one day of public speaking and effective communication training, 600 year 10 students from 12 schools in the borough took part in the competition.
Kareena won a £100 gift certificate for coming first and a chance to go through to the grand final of the ‘Speak Out’ Challenge on July 6 (2015) at West End’s Piccadilly Theatre.
Councillor Tej Ram Bagha, Mayor of Ealing, presented the awards. He said: “Very well done. Encouraging children to come to the stage to make a speech gives them confidence. They are the leaders of the future.”
Second place went to Francis Lali of Cardinal Wiseman School in Greenford with his speech ‘The Elephant in the Room’ and third place went to Zoya Styles of Acton High School with her speech ‘Young Carers’.
Jack Petchey’s ‘Speak Out’ Challenge is the biggest public speaking event of its kind in the world. Now in its ninth year, more than 18,000 year 10 students are expected to compete for over £15,000 worth of prizes in this year’s final.
