- Barbados: NCSA Speech Contest – ‘Voices of the Youth”
Twenty-six fourth and fifth-form students from public and private secondary schools across Barbados will seek to qualify for the finals in the National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA) ‘Voices of the Youth Secondary School Contest’, on Thursday, January 25th, 2024.
The contest is a collaboration between the NCSA and the Barbados arm of Toastmasters International.
As the Government agency responsible for drug demand reduction throughout Barbados, the NCSA encouraged participants to actively research the topic of substance abuse and provided the opportunity for them to share their perspectives through the age-old art of public speaking.
In the run up to the contest, the participants have completed a one-day training exercise which provided them with the opportunity to make short presentations. During that training, Distinguished Toastmaster, Ms. Beverly Parris spoke about the “World of Public Speaking” and “How to Deliver as a Boss”, while Ms. Keisha Parris also of Toastmasters International spoke to the participants about “Effective Writing”. Mrs. Laura Foster Information and Research Officer at the NCSA spoke of the “Power of Research”.
Organizers of the contest Mr. Mosiah Hoyte said it was important that all students be exposed to basic research and public speaking skills before the start of the competition.
The qualifying stage will see students will presenting a 2–3-minute prepared speech on a selected topic specific to drugs and substance use/abuse. The twelve students receiving the highest points after adjudication, will proceed to the finals which will be held on Thursday, February 8th, 2024, where they will present 5–7-minute prepared speeches.
