The WAIII(Pty) Ltd partnered with the AFRICA MUSLIMS AGENCY for yet another successful 5^thAnnual Speech Contest 2020,with the assistance of activators around Joburg Area, The contest ran from the 12^th ofOctober 2020 to the 16^th of October which participants from variousschools in the Johannesburg south region participated and sent through theirvideos on their chosen speech titles provided by the hosts of the contest. Despite thechallenges of the Corona Virus, the team opted to move the event from itsinitial date 18^th April 2020 bringing all participants to compete ona single event. 

The teamdecided that the event would run successfully though with expected hiccups dueto COVID-19 and its regulations, so the event took a slight change of path asthe team wanted to adhere to the no mass gathering regulation; the program wasnot an actual event. 

For the contest toturn into a success regardless of the COVID-19 working against us, schools wereapproached to participate, with strict rules mainly being that there would beno audience, only the WAIII crew and a strict number of three educators; andthat everyone is expected to wear their face masks during the shooting ofstudents at their respectful schools. The team introduced another alternativefor students that wanted to take part, but the schools

 werenot taking part in the contest; students were had other platform where they canpersonally send in their videos via WhatsApp or they can email their videos.

The warmththat we felt as event runners was very welcoming, the smiles the students gavewere breath taking and it gave this whole event a new meaning. 

It wasn’tjust an ordinary public speaking event but an opportunity were students canexpress themselves and be part of something different which was positive duringthe 2020 academic year that has stressed them quite a lot and so much pressurebehind the fact that they should keep with time as the academic year 2020 wasput at hold.

Nevertheless20 schools from primary to secondary school participated respectively from grade5 to grade 11 including a poetry category, and it was a tough competition.

“Courage iswhat it takes to stand up and speak, that’s what participants were able to doand to those who did not win it’s not the last time, it’s only the beginning ofsuccess”, said Zanele Tshabalala who is one the facilitators at WAIII (Pty) Ltd. The schoolsthat participated in this year’s contest were delighted by the opportunity toform part in this remarkable event despite all the hardships the year 2020 hasoffered to human kind, and this event was something that the schools andlearners would be happy to look back at as yet another memory created. All effortsthat were brought in to make this event a success was much appreciated. Wewould like to thank all the participants and the schools who participated inthe Annual Speech contest 

The hostshope to continue the legacy of creating an environment of a positive learningcommunity that encourages community involvement into growing all futureleaders.