Main aim is to speak out

The development of communication skills in children is crucial for their development as a whole. And confidence plays a big role in helping us speak up. So how can children build confidence to speak up and express themselves?

Giving a speech will probably do it.

The second year of the AIM Cup Public Speaking Competition organized by SeeChange Education is now open for registration for children from five to 18.

It will be held online before the normal summer holiday takes place from June 19 to 26.

"The main purpose of SeeChange is to cultivate leadership skills, 21st-century communication skills in children and the next generation," said Rita Pang, founder of SeeChange Education.

"Parents in Hong Kong may focus more on the academics, but we really want them to hear the stories of the children and what they have to say.

"And communication is in every part of what we do, academically, career-wise, associations and anything. So the more we can cultivate and find our voice, the more we would feel that people are listening and we are understood and acknowledged, making us feel better about ourselves."

With the name being an acronym of three English words, AIM Cup offers children an authentic, impactful and meaningful stage to learn and grow in and prepare for the process of composing a speech and finally presenting it in front of the judges and an audience.

This public-speaking competition is based on the organizer's experience in holding debating competitions for children aged 10 and beyond. Then requests for younger children-oriented events were received.

"We're huge believers in applied learning, and public speaking is one of those that doesn't work the same way when you practice in front of the mirror. You need your audience and their feedback, so we'll try to build an extension out of it and provide a live stage," Pang said on the potential scale of the competition.

Last year's AIM Cup attracted children from diverse backgrounds, including both local and international school students in Hong Kong and also participants from another seven countries.

"Some of the participants were nervous last year that they couldn't stand on their feet and react instantaneously. So it'll be a great opportunity and a learning experience for children to go through these experiences, learn about their limitations and then move forward from there."

The organizer has gathered several supporting units from the education field and two beneficiaries - Lifewire and Playright.

Lifewire is a crowd-funding platform dedicated to providing health and financial support for children suffering from rare diseases, while Playright is a local NGO promoting the concept of play to schools, parents and teachers through physical activities.

The theme of this year's competition, "Children's Right to Play," is fully aligned with what Playright believes in.

"We always want to find a current topic that's relevant to the children, family and audience," Pang said. "Particularly during the global pandemic of the past three years, the concept of play - such as how it can be practiced and applied in real life - has changed a lot.

"So we thought it a very special occasion to be able to capture children's own concepts and experiences of what play - and perhaps the absence of it - means," Pang said.

Those taking part in the AIM Cup are divided into junior and senior divisions and each has a specific speech topic.

Children from five to nine are in two subgroups to give a speech on "My Favourite Game" for one to two minutes. Three subgroups cover those from 10 to 18 giving a three-to-four minute speech on "Children's Right to Play."

Speakers will then be marked and winners will be selected by a panel of experts in education and English linguistics.

Winners will receive scholarships celebrating talents and encouraging children's growth from SeeChange for its public-speaking courses.

Registration for the AIM Cup is open until May 15. A registration fee of HK$380 is required and those taking part must submit a video of their speech by May 29 for final selection.

Website: www.aim-cup.org

charlie.ng@singtaonewscorp.com