This programme is basically for youths to conquer their fear of speaking in public

Youth organization Ign­ite4Change president Brod­erick Mervyn says they will focus on empowering youths by teaching them techniques and methods of public speaking.

They organized a Ministry of Youth and Sports-sponsored event called the “Conquering Public Speaking Short Course” workshop which was held at the University of the South Pa­cific’s (USP) Lautoka campus, on Saturday.

“This programme is basically for youths to conquer their fear of speaking in pub­lic,” Mr. Mervyn said.

“This is the first ever initiative by a youth-led organization such as Ignite4Change to be brought up to the higher levels (univer­sity level).”

He said their vision was on youth empow­erment and what better way to kick start that in the West than tackling young peo­ple’s nervousness when talking in public.

The one day workshop was attended by 30 selected participants from the various tertiary institutions including Fiji Na­tional University (FNU), University of Fiji (UNIFIJI) and hosts USP.

“We had asked the youths how and what they had learned from the workshop and how they would implement these skills they learned in their communities,” he said.

UNI Fiji final year law student Unaisi Qe­sanalagi said learning some skills on pub­lic speaking would be a necessary skill for the career she was aspiring to.

“This workshop here is actually going to help us conquer the fear of public speak­ing because not everyone can do public speaking naturally,” Ms. Qesanalagi said.

Fiji National University student (FNU) Sainimere Tadrau Loki said she learned a great deal from the workshop.

“In terms of realising who you are also who you are inbuilt to become and of course conquering the fear of public speaking,” Ms. Loki said.

Ignite4Change’s Mr. Mervyn said it was the first of the many youth empowerment public speaking workshops they would conduct this year.

Edited by Percy Kean

Feedback: peni.komaisavai@fijisun.com.fj