BOTEA2017-CC2 Speech by Viola Lutara

BOTEA 2017

It has been said that many people miss to seize opportunity because “it knocks on the door dressed in overalls and gum boots”, therefore it looks like work.

The opportunity to join Toastmasters presented itself on 10th march when my friend invited me for meeting where she was presenting her maiden speech at a club that trains ordinary people to become extraordinary leaders and normal everyday speakers to excellent communicators.

Once I got there I realized that this is what I had been looking for all along to improve my skills. As I continued attending the meetings I got to know that there was to be a regional speech contest in a few months’ time. This was called “The best of toastmasters east Africa” (BOTEA) and it was slated to take place in Kigali, Rwanda from the 23rd to 24th June.

There and then I made up my mind that I needed to be in Kigali for BOTEA in whatever capacity!

Photo by Serukwaya. Viola Lutara on right, Christine Nabiryo on left.

My experience from BOTEA taught me three things:

1. You should not fear to venture into new things because you never know what you can do till you try it out. (It is only those who get out of the boat who walk on water)

Most of the speakers told us about how they overcame the trepidation of public speaking and venturing into the competitions. They narrated to us the journey they went through to become winners in their spheres of influence. How the once shy people became eloquent speakers with verve, charisma, charm and wit.

While others were calm, cool and collected…others were loud and boisterous and others engaged in theatricals.

We were encouraged to “face our giants”

2.  As a country, we Ugandans need to pull up or socks in all areas of life and also open up more Toastmasters and Gavel Clubs in our colleges and Universities if we are to compete favorably with the rest of the region.

Out of a total of 34 competitors there were only five (5) Ugandans. Therefore, we were out competed though our speakers represented us ably.

The first round of speeches was held in three different rooms with 11 competitors each. For purposes of transparency each of them picked a ballot paper to determine the order in which they would speak.

4 contestants were then picked from each of the three rooms and 12 members went into the second round.

I am glad to report that though we were outnumbered 2 of our very own out of the 5 made it to the second round.

After another round of engaging speeches 2 Kenyans and 3 Rwandans made it to the finals…unfortunately none of them being a Ugandan.

The finalists were then required to give impromptu speeches on a topic which they had not prepared for…

“The joys of a pit latrine” …. while some speakers grasped it and nailed the topic on the head…. others were totally caught off guard and lost.

At the end of the day Kenya took the first and second positions while Rwanda took the third.

3. There is hope for Africa in the young people.

Apart from the toastmaster’s competitors we also witnessed the finals of the Gavel Club competitions. Gavel clubs are those ones in High schools and Universities. A total of 5 finalists wowed us with Stellar speeches ranging from …. humanity….to love….and death.

They took our emotions on a roller coaster. Up and down.

One moment we were laughing and the next we were crying…

We went from joy to sadness and back.

They were passionate…they were prepared and informed…

The topics were engaging…. the diction rich and the gramma could not be faulted.

At the end of it all they got a standing ovation.

To me…. this was the highlight of the event.

The competitions ended after a total of 52 speeches had been presented. Each participant had the opportunity of listening to over 40 stellar speeches presented by people of all ages and backgrounds.

What these people had in common was that they “stepped out of the boat” and:” faced their giants”

Are you willing to face yours?

The other Countries have very many Toastmasters and Gavel clubs thus were able to field in more speakers…. are we ready to be the champions and sponsors of more clubs and to invite and encourage more people to join toastmasters?

Are we ready to mentor and invest in the young people?

This speech by Viola Lutara, who is an executive committee member of Kampala Toastmasters Club, was delivered at Bukoto Toastmasters Club. We meet every first Tuesday of the month at Alliance Francaise, from 6pm. (Soon locating to our new premises).
Follow us on Twitter @BukotoTM1.

THE POWER OF A DREAM –CC1 SPEECH By Jesse Ainebyoona

 

 

THE POWER OF A DREAM –CC1 SPEECH By Jesse Ainebyoona

It was Carl Sandburg who said that nothing happens unless first a dream.

 I am going to share with you today about the power of a dream. I truly believe that dreams come true.

Born 31years ago in the beautiful Switzerland of Uganda, I Jesse Ainebyoona, a 4th born in a family of 5 boys and 1 girl, had no idea what great adventure lay ahead of me as I began my life in the beautiful land of Kabale.

I started school at Kabale Primary School. I can remember the cold mornings as I walked to school through the town streets. I would see buses loading passengers going to Kampala and I would wonder if I would one day get an opportunity to travel to Kampala. I had seen pictures of the city in our text books and I longed to go there one day but I had never got an opportunity to do so.

When I got to Primary 4, my dad who was an established business man in Kampala, invited us to visit him. I packed my bag 5 days to the trip and i was so thrilled that I hardly slept the night before. I couldn't wait for the morning to come. Excitement filled my heart as I boarded the bus to go to Kampala for the first time. I was amazed at the number of cars on the streets, the tall buildings and many people. That was my first journey to Kampala. My father promised that if I went back to Kabale and passed my promotional exams to Primary 5, I would go to study in Kampala. Indeed I went back and studied very hard and was promoted to Primary 5 & then moved to Kampala where I enrolled at Kampala Parents. It was a dream come true.

It was such a new experience! I could hear children talking about cartoon network and superman but I had no idea what they were talking about because I had never experienced that. My childhood in Kabale was spent fetching water, doing house chores and playing out in the fields with my friends. I somehow felt left out but I chose to focus on my studies.

When I got to Primary 7, I put my first choice at St Mary's College Kisubi and with aggregate 5 in my PLE, I made it on merit. It was a dream come true.

When I got to Form 2, I suffered the adolescent disease and one day when I was suspended for stealing school bans due to peer pressure. This badly affected my self esteem and my performance in class soon began to decline. My position in class shifted to the bottom 5. I was the shadow of myself and i was a disappointment to my parents and those who looked up to me. I was asked to repeat Form 3 but at the headmaster's mercy, I was promoted to Form 4 on probation. I had a dream to make good grades, regain my lost reputation and make it to the University on Government Sponsorship but I felt this dream was slowly flipping through my fingers.

 I challenged myself to improve my grades but things only seemed to go from bad to worse. In Form 4 first term exams, I got 31 aggregates in 8 subjects. In second term, I vowed to come back stronger and perform  better but i only improved by -1 and got 32 in 8 in mock exams. With sheer determination, intense hard work and constant encouragement from my mother, I got 14 aggregates in the best 8 subjects. It was a dream come true. I desired to change the school  environment so I went to Kibuli Secondary School for my High School.

Here I got to discover the other side of me that I had never known before. I participated in debating competitions and emerged the best  debater overall, an award that I esteem so highly to this date.

I was able to go to the university on Government scholarship to study Mechanical Engineering. This was another dream come true.

While at the university, a friend shared with me a business idea. I saw it as something I would do to occupy me in my free time and make some pocket money while on campus. By the time I got to second year, I was earning close to a million shillings and I have never looked back. By the time I got to 3rd year, I had bought my first car and by the time of my graduation, the income I was earning was much more than I would get paid on a job. This was yet another experience that made me realize that dreams come true.

One day I escorted a friend who was traveling abroad to the airport. When I saw him board the aeroplane, I was mesmerized by the experience and I desired to travel by plane one day but every time I thought about it, my mind would go racing with endless questions such as where would I go, to see who, to do what and who would pay?

At the time, the company I was working with would be celebrating a golden jubilee in a year's time and this was to take place in London. The company set an incentive that whoever would achieve a certain sales target would get the opportunity to travel to London for the golden jubilee celebration.

I got a picture of a plane and put it at the back of my diary and I looked at it all the time as I went about my business activities.

It became such a consuming obsession that one day I dreamt that I was on a plane only to wake up to find myself in my bed. I wished I had stayed in the dream!

Finally I achieved the sales target and received the invitation letter to attend the golden jubilee celebration in London.

The day finally came for me to travel to London. I was dressed so smartly in a dark blue suit that one of my friends who had escorted me to the airport remarked that if I there was a free seat in the First class section, they would give it to me.

What amazed me also was that the aircraft I had on the picture in my diary is the same one I used to travel that day.

At home, i set a record by becoming the first person in my family and entire clan to board a plane! Indeed dreams come true.

Sometimes we set out to achieve something but we often get overwhelmed with some many obstacles and challenges.

It reminds me of this poem:

The road to success is never straight.

There's a curb called failure,

a loop of confusion,

speed bumps called friends,

red lights called enemies,

caution lights called family,

flat tyres called jobs, but if you have a spare tyre called determination,

an engine called faith,

insurance called perseverance,

a vehicle called Opportunity and

a driver called Jesus,

you will make it to a Destination called success.

Thank you

Bukoto Toastmaster s  Club meets every first Tuesday of the month at Alliance Francaise. We’re soon moving to our new premises.

'Where the brave speak'

Email: bukototoastmastersclub@gmail.com

Twitter:  @BukotoTM1

Blog:      bukototoastmastersclub.blogspot.com

Tel: +256 751 703226

Loved by the best-CC1 speech by Catherine Opondo

Loved by the best

Do you want to know what love is?

Catherine Opondo

At a very young age I seemed to notice his side-burns as he kissed or carried me. He often played a game that he called “eating your ears”, that was my recollection of affection.I somehow knew my position or place in his space or world. Ideally at that time I was the first girl, and oh yes! he doted over me. He introduced all his children to everyone he encountered, we were the pride of His introductions. Not a sentence ended without making mention of HIS WIFE OR CHILDREN. He was Daddy, my father, Fred Henry Kasozi. (May he rest in peace ). It is his love that shaped me, a journey that began on 5^th December 1976 at Mulago where I was born; Catherine Kasozi.

This is where I get my sense of security and pride. I am so certain this experience contributes to my ability to easily relate with people, my view is that of security. Daddy's childhood was not a glamorous one,from a broken family, he chose to make himself an admirable life, He found love and married the girl of his dreams (Margaret) and together they birthed six beautiful children and I come third from this lineage. When we were growing up, plenty was not an option in our household, but love was and this is how it was shown.We shared everything with the needy, relatives and friends. Beddings, rooms and food were not personalized. They often took strolls in the neighborhood and I stared intently at the balcony as he slipped his hand into hers as they walked and talked each evening. All family matters were discussed with the children and we had a say into what works and what made economic sense. Our friends as children were their friends too and as they visited; they each had personal moments to talk and find life’s wisdom with him. I now can tell why I have a heart of compassion and my understanding of love is that it must be shown.

I was introduced to the world of music by my parents. Lessons and discipline were instilled as we were taken as early as six years to join the church choir; attend the Kampala singers’ concerts and prose and song defined our moments of learning as Mum sang us to sleep, to patience (Have Patience, have patience, don’t be in such a hurry…. When you get impatient,) and loving one another. At some point, they shared their friends’ choirs' practices at home and we had a chance at listening to the world’s best voices, “the Nazareth Blessed Choir”. When music becomes the language of a home, it changes the way people relate, it sharpens a child’s development. If I were to trace where my love for music started it cannot escape the idea that My Parents brought music home. Nevertheless, when they chose to take us to school, they chose schools that had a musical appreciation. Kitante Primary school, Makerere College School where I participated in concerts and contests, were always the highlights. Ladies and Gentlemen this is the reason why I and my siblings sing; we were loved by the best.

At work, during a Bukoto Toastmasters club meeting 

I admired their love for each other and their deep devotion to faith. I wondered whether this would be something I would carry on in my future. My parents introduced me to the best, the love that defines their love and that was their God, whom they told me had Loved them the best. I can proudly say I was loved by the best because they received from the best a love they cherish. My inclination to hold onto Faith is deeply rooted in my upbringing. You might not have received the love am talking about and just like my Father, had a childhood that you may not want anyone to talk about. But you have a choice to rewrite history through the future. Having walked a journey of rejection, poverty and pain; he chose to make his stepping stone, through his work.Traversing towns and cities of Kampala, Luwero, Gulu, Kabale, Kigali, Abuja, Lagos, Freetown, Cote D’viore, Harare and Juba finding children like him and giving them hope. 

As he is fondly known by many, Uncle Fred gave many young boys and girls hope through his work. Sharing my Father with these many children gave me a new-found love. He chose to dream for Uganda’s girls along with his wife; that one day all girls will fully participate in a world where all people are engaged in their economic, political and social development. A dream for over 800 girls in Uganda was birthed; who proudly walk these streets with confidence. Confidence that comes from knowing just like me that I was loved by the best.And this is where I spend my time, working to see this dream at Concern for the Girl Child to greater heights.

He often said,“Uganda’s children have been dipped in hatred, rejection, pain, corruption, poverty and shame and likened them to sponges…. when you dip a sponge in dirty water and squeeze it out you get dirty water and likewise when you dip it in milk and squeeze out you will get milk.”

“Dip a child in Love… when we dip them in love; love is what they will give the world around them”. This is the principle I am still learning to use as I raise my three children and influence the many children I have been able to meet through my work.

I was dipped in Love, and because I was loved by the best, love is what I will give the world around me.

Catherine Opondo is Bukoto Toastmasters treasurer.

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