HACKNEY YOUNGSTERS MAKE THEMSELVES HEARD IN
JACK PETCHEY’S “SPEAK OUT” CHALLENGE! 2009/10
Mei-Li (Arianna) Evans aged 15 from Haggerston School, scooped top prize in the Hackney final of Jack Petchey’s ‘Speak Out’ Challenge! 2009/10, held at Cardinal Pole School on Tuesday 25th May 2010.
Mei-Li’s speech on her chosen subject, ‘Procrastination’ won her an iPod touch and a chance to go through to the Gala Grand Final of the Speak Out Challenge! on July 9th 2010.
Run by SpeakersBank, part of the Speakers Trust charity, Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out” Challenge! is the biggest public speaking event of its kind in the world. Initial rounds are taking place in over 550 schools across London and Essex.
Nine schools in Hackney took part which involved 450 year 10 students, who all received a full day of training in public speaking and effective communication. The strongest from each school went forward to a final of 18 students speaking out passionately about issues important to them.
Runner up was Shaquel Grant age 14 from The Petchey Academy with his subject ‘Black Culture’ and third was Tejegula Bunduka, age 15 also from Haggerston school with her title ‘What is a Bad Man?’.
Judges included; Jennette Arnold OBE AM, Member of the London Assembly for North East London and Joannie Andrews Head of Learning and Professional Development at Hackney Community College
Jennette Arnold said; "Excellent, Challenging and a demonstration of the best of Hackney”
The Speaker of Hackney Councillor Unluer Muttalip and Jackie Murphy, Hackney’s very own Pearly Queen presented the prizes.
Winner Mei- Li said: “Young people do have a voice!”
Sponsored by the Jack Petchey Foundation and now in its fifth year, up to 20,000 young people are expected to compete for over £25,000 worth of prizes in this year’s final. For further details visit www.speakoutchallenge.com