“The 21st Century Emirati Woman: My Future as a Citizen and Leader�? Public Speaking Contest

Six Zayed University students were named Zayed University public speaking champions at The 21^st Century Emirati Woman: My Future as a Citizen and Leader competitions. Speech contest winners were honored with certificates of Public Speaking Excellence and invited to participate in specialized leadership training.  This MEPI funded project encouraged young women's participation and leadership in public life and raised public awareness of the important role of women in the future of the UAE.

Eight Student finalists on each ZU campus - One in Abu Dhabi and one in Dubai - competed in the finals of the competition with original speeches on the topic "My future as a citizen and leader in the UAE" on May 22 in the Auditorium on the Dubai campus, and on May 23 in the auditorium in Abu Dhabi. Finalists spoke of their goals of being leaders in politics, media, IT, community and family.  In her speech on the Abu Dhabi Campus, Noor Saif Nasser Moahmmed Al Suwaidi told the audience: "What makes us qulaified to be future leaders is based on what we do today as university students, from gaining experience to learning new tools.  It is what you are today that gives you the reasons to become a future leader, and my reason for wanting to become a leader is the love I have for my country and community."  In her speech on the Dubai campus, Mona Mohammed Abdulla Mohammed Musmari noted: "I think it is very difficult to lead today when people are not truly participating in decisions.  If you don't give people an opportunity to really be engaged, they won't stay."

Prior to the speech contest, finalists took part in a series of four public speaking and leadership communication skills workshops with 200 other Zayed University students. The workshops taught students to develop confidence and effectiveness in public speaking and interpersonal communication; to deal with nervousness; to organize a presentation effectively; and to write presentations for specific audiences and purposes. Following the workshops, 54 students entered The 21^st Century Emirati Woman: My Future as a Citizen and Leader public speaking competition. The 8 semi-final winners on each campus advanced to the finals.

Murjan Mohamed Yousuf Mohamed said, "The workshops really helped me realize the characteristics of a successful public ‎speaker and helped in shaping who I want to be." Hussa Salem Al Romaithin added that the workshops taught her "to be passionate and to work hard in order to reach my goals and most importantly to be positive not only in speech but in everything in life."

The 21^st Century Emirati Woman: My Future as a Citizen and Leader project will continue at Zayed University as part of the new Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Center for Leadership. Contest winners will receive additional leadership training and take on roles as student leaders and mentors in the new center.