With the bad press that so many teenagers and young people get in the media nowadays, it was greatly heartening and refreshing to attend a Youth Speaks debating competition recently organised by local Rotary Clubs where students from local schools entertained the audience with lively, passionate and enlightening speeches on various topics.

The young winners of the junior section from Aberdour School won us over with a talk on Fast Food, do we have a choice?’ Food for thought indeed. And the intermediate section was won by the Beacon School whose chosen topic of autism was a very moving and personal view from the team involved. 

All of the students who participated gave marvellous and confident speeches and all deserve congratulations. It must have been very difficult to choose a winning team.  Rotary arrange many competitions for youngsters - i.e. Youth Speaks, Young Chef, Young Photographer, Young Musician etc. and I would urge schools to consider participating and giving their students the opportunity to show off their skills to the residents of Epsom and Ewell

In these days of bad and depressing news in the media it was very reassuring to hear from all these youngsters and certainly gives us hope for the future to hear the point of view of the next generation of citizens.

Sue Shone

Aragon Avenue

East Ewell

 



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