Dr Marjorie Yee-Sing of Toastmasters International Branch BVI spoke to First District Youth on the importance of public speaking and urged them to use this tool to be able to learn of the success of others which they could transfer into their own lives. Photo: VINO

The event was the brainchild of First District Representative Hon Andrew A. Fahie. Photo: VINO

A section of the audience. Photo: VINO

Some of the youth to be trained pose for a photo with Hon Fahie. Photo: VINO

The public speaking coach was speaking at the opening of a month long training workshop for First District youth on Sunday November 8, 2015 at the Leonora Delville Primary School in Capoons Bay. The workshop is sponsored by First District Representative Honourable Andrew A. Fahie.

“This workshop is designed to help you learn the process and gain a foundation for public speaking. It also allows you practical experience so that you would be able to interact with each other,” she said while delivering her opening statement on the training for the some 20 First District youths.

“We need you to be able to express thoughts to others and find out what makes people so successful.”

Yee-Sing told the young people that for them to do that they need to interact on a wider scale and for this to happen they must step outside of their comfort zone.

She cited to them the example of politicians who can be made or broken through public speaking.

“If you cannot sell what you are trying to convince us to buy then you will never win an election.”

She also cited the example of Barack H. Obama who was virtually unknown before he gave his famous keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and noted that he became the 44th President of the United States just five short years after. This, she said, was due in part to Obama’s ability to captivate with his public speaking.

Turning to some examples closer to home she cited persons like the late Chief Minister H. Lavity Stoutt, the late attorney at law J.S. Archibald and Honourable Myron V. Walwyn as persons to whom the First District youth could take example from.

“They are (or were) very good orators and they know the value of public speaking. Without that they could not have been successful,” he said.

Further, she said the youth would be able benefit and transfer their skills of public speaking into everyday situations in which they might be called upon to speak, whether it is a family reunion, a job interview, while in class at school, club meetings and social events.

“The ability to express yourself confidently and with ease could bring great rewards... It simply requires a commitment to self improvement,” said Dr Yee-Sing.