Young Voices, Future Leaders: Changlun Youth Leadership Club Inspires Confidence Through Public Speaking

Photos Siti Fartimah Saidan

CHANGLUN, 19 May 2026: A vibrant and inspiring atmosphere filled Masjid Abidin, Sungai Laka, Changlun, as 13 enthusiastic children aged between 8 and 12 years old participated in the Changlun Youth Leadership Club programme recently. Held from 8.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m., the programme aimed to nurture confidence, strengthen interaction skills, and develop leadership qualities among young participants through engaging and interactive public speaking activities.

The programme was organised by the Centre of Testing, Measurement and Appraisal (CeTMA), Universiti Utara Malaysia, under the Changloon Transformation Project (CTP), with the public speaking and leadership activities conducted by a dedicated team of lecturers and CTP volunteers from the School of Multimedia Technology and Communication (SMMTC). The collaboration highlighted the combined efforts of both departments in ensuring the programme was successfully implemented, with CeTMA overseeing programme coordination, management, and community engagement, while the SMMTC team focused on participant development and interactive learning sessions.

Among the SMMTC lecturers and CTP volunteers involved were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sabrina Mohd Rashid, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Norsiah Abdul Hamid, Dr. Aida Filzah Ramli, and Dr. Syazwani Mahsal Khan.

CeTMA also played an important role in ensuring the smooth implementation of the programme through administrative coordination, logistical support, and active participation throughout the event. Among the CeTMA representatives present were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zahayu binti Md Yusof, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siti Nurazira binti Mohd Daud, Mohd Fadzli bin Suhaimi, and Siti Fartimah binti Saidan. Their involvement reflected CeTMA’s continuous commitment towards supporting educational, youth development, and community engagement initiatives.

The initiative was introduced to provide young participants with early exposure to effective speaking, self-expression, interaction skills, and leadership development through engaging and hands-on learning experiences. The programme also aimed to instill self-confidence and encourage participants to become more articulate, expressive, and confident individuals from a young age.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Masnita Msiran @ Bakun, the programme represents a meaningful long-term effort in equipping children with valuable life skills and broader future opportunities.

“This programme is a great effort in upskilling the children and exposing them to broader opportunities in the future. It is aligned with the vision of the Changloon Transformation Project in transforming Changlun into a leading knowledge society,” she said.

Meanwhile, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sabrina Mohd Rashid expressed her pride and excitement over the remarkable improvements demonstrated by the participants throughout the programme’s second phase.

“This is the second phase of the programme, and I am proud to see significant improvements among the children. I believe they have tremendous potential, and I am grateful to the speakers and facilitators for not only teaching but also nurturing the participants to become more confident individuals,” she said.

The programme featured a series of engaging and interactive sessions focusing on public speaking, self-expression, teamwork, creativity, and leadership development. The activities were conducted by guest speaker Grace Aisyah Humairah Kedayan from Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), together with facilitators from the Darulaman Toastmasters Club, namely Atikah Mohd Mahadzir, Noorhajariah Amil, Loo Chean Yin, and Muhammad Umar.

Throughout the programme, participants learned important public speaking techniques such as maintaining eye contact, using appropriate gestures, improving voice projection, and delivering speeches with greater clarity and confidence. Participants were also given opportunities to work closely in groups, prepare their own speeches, and present their ideas in front of an audience.

The programme concluded with a showcase session where all participants confidently delivered speeches on topics of their choice. The presentations were evaluated by facilitators and speakers, followed by constructive feedback sessions aimed at helping the children further strengthen their confidence and presentation abilities.

The programme achieved encouraging outcomes, with every participant successfully completing their presentations. Organisers also noted that all participants expressed strong interest in joining future sessions, reflecting the programme’s positive impact and meaningful learning experience.

Following the active participation received, the organising team plans to continue the programme in the future as part of ongoing efforts to nurture confident, articulate, and future-ready young leaders through interaction and leadership development initiatives. – Wan Aisyah Khairani Wan Muhammad Nasri