From Andrew P Bennett DTM, District Youth Leadership Advisor
Our UK & Ireland District 71Toastmasters Youth Leadership Intiative starts 2013 in fine fettle. More young people in schools and elsewhere are getting involved thanks to our Toastmasters volunteers. Watch the video of the YLP Coaching event we ran and read the news of our exciting programmes below:
News is reaching us from Toastmaster Brendan Haughton in Ireland of 64 Young People undertaking our programme similtaneously in groups at Colaiste Craobh Abhann, a secondary school in Kilcoole.
We were thrilled to hear that Cranfield Speakers and President Becky Piper recently completed their Youth Leadership Programme at Hazeley School with a splendid celebration event.
Riverside Communicators has just completed its second run of the programme at Waldegrave School,Twickenham with Toastmaster Sue Kennedy. Many of our clubs run the programme twice or three times to satisfy demand and this reflects the enthusiasm of our Toastmaster Coordinators too!
It is also exciting when our Youth Leadership Graduates make an impression outside of school:
4 graduates from Toastmaster Pemma Fox's, London Corinthians, programme with the Tibetan community were chosen to speak at a London event in honour of the Dalai Lama's Birthday.
After just three hour and ten minute sessions of Berkeley Square Speakers programme Young People from Trinity School (a mixed ability Comprehensive,) Belvedere, Kent placed 3rd, ahead of several Grammar and Private Schools, in their Borough Public Speaking Challenge. The tranformation in their Speaking and Leadership abilities when they graduated from the programme was described as startling .
There are many more YLPs in progress and i offer a hearty thank you to all the Coordinators and their Supporting Clubs The YLP is indeed a well thought out tool for equiping our Youth with Communication skills.
If you would like to become involved please view the film of the Youth Leadership Programme Coaching Event for Clubs and Coordinators and visit our D71 portal page. http://d71.org/portal.php?page=2447. There is more info on YLP and more videos to watch here.