Clerk of the House of Assembly, Phyllis Evans (right) presents a Certificate of Appreciation to Jean Vanterpool of Eureka Medical Care Clinic for being one of the sponsors of the upcoming workshop. In the background is Founder of Little Speaker's Touch, Mrs. Stephanie Brewley-George. The presentation/ launch of the workshop was held on March 28 at the Moorings.

Stephanie Brewley-George, seen here with her husband Bevin George, founded Little Speaker's Touch in 2011.

The programme, titled “SHAPE UP”, will be held from April 2 through April 14, 2012 in the 6th District Community Centre and will cater for participants’ age 10 to 18.

Areas of focus for the workshop, which would run from 9am to 3pm daily, would include Best Public Speaking Practices, Leadership and Development, Table Etiquette and Setting and Dressing for Success.

Facilitators of the workshop would include Arlene T. Penn, Ayanna Hull-Braithwaite, Kimberly Kuntz, Judith Vanterpool and Stephanie Brewley-George.

According to Brewley-George, the workshop would also shift to Scrub Island for a day.

As Little Speaker’s Touch make its mark in the Virgin Islands, the philanthropic efforts of the company extends its arms to the needs of the youths in the Territory and has committed to giving back to a non-profit organisation through fundraisers for each program it hosts. It is currently proposed that the cohort of the 2o12 “SHAPE UP” program will be hosting a fundraising event on April 20, 2012 at Governor House to “give back to their community in a big way”. Proceeds would go towards the Save the Seed Foundation.

Among the sponsors and partners for the upcoming workshop are; Nagico Insurances, Caribbean Insurers, Hon Alvera Maduro- Caines, Hon Andrew Fahie, Department of Culture, CBN Broadcasting Network, Eureka Medical Clinic, Jastier, Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mutual of Omaha, Rotary Club of Tortola, Smiths and Associates and Infinite Solutions.

About Little Speaker’s Touch and it’s founder

Stephanie Brewley-George’s propelling pageant, the 2000 Miss Hal Jackson Talented Teen Pageant created for her the opportunity to represent the Virgin Islands at three international competitions. Here, her ability to sell the BVI and aptitude for public speaking were noted and awarded, as she was awarded Best Promotional Speech winner on multiple occasions.

After her pageant career, she continued to train other pageant contestants with special attention paid to elocution and delivery. Her work was rewarded with wins at the Miss East End/Long Look Pageant and at the Miss British Virgin Islands Pageant.

Noting the difficulty she encountered when instructing some contestants, Brewley-George decided to open Little Speaker’s Touch, a company aimed to instruct people of all ages in the proper techniques of public speaking. She also went on further to expand the company to explore development aspects of youth and insisted on hosting youth Development programs for youths that would build their creditability and foster their competitive edge in a world of increased competition.

The organisation, however, began its focus with young people (children), as it is the founder’s belief that it is necessary to create a culture where young people are able to discern when and where best to engage proper speaking techniques. Brewley-George believes that when young people are able to navigate “the biggest stumbling block” to speaking- the use of the local dialect, our children could be the best speakers today as they prepare for tomorrow.

According to the organisation’s founder, the economic situation of our time has led to a competitive job market for all individuals. She believes a person’s ability to sell themselves will therefore become their greatest tool for job placement. Beyond the written resume, Brewley-George says that each of us will be called to introduce and essentially sell ourselves at some point. To this end, she says that being prepared now, to always create a powerful impression by one’s ability to speak and to speak well, will serve our children in the future.

In addition to this, a person’s ability to be well rounded in the way they carry themselves and their ability to navigate how to conduct themselves in situations of any magnitude counts as the second most important attribute to shaping a generation of “world class youth”.