DAMMAM — Creative Gavel Club, a club formed for children between the ages of 10 and 15 years under Area 25 of Toastmasters International, held its annual speech contest for its members on Friday in Dammam. Twenty Gaveliers dazzled the audience with their oratory skills. It was a wonderful mix of subjects and the talented contestants presented their abilities brimming with confidence to the cheer and laughter of the audience. The contest was spread over two groups and the contestants were placed in those groups as per their school grades. Mohammed Abdul Saleem, an ace toastmaster of Urdu Toastmasters Club, was the chief judge and supervised flawlessly the judging part with the help of other judges called from the Toastmasters fraternity. The contest, which was spread in two categories was ably conducted by two Gaveliers, Syed Zaid Albeez and Maaz Sajid Malik. The Area Director of Area 25, Prakash Pallakadavath enhanced the occasion with his presence and inspired the children to perform confidently and without any fear of losing. Ayesha Razia Mustafa won the first prize in the Group A of the contest, which consisted of Gaveliers studying between 4th and 7th grades. Jishu Anil Kumar and Maryam Safi Hyder were the first and second runners up respectively. In the second group, comprising Gaveliers studying in Grade 8th or above, Sadiqa Yasin was adjudged the first prize trophy winner, while Ankita Nair and Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed Mustafa were first and second runners up respectively. The first and second place winner from Group A and the second place winner from Group B will present showcase speech at the Area 25 Annual Speech Contest to be held on Feb. 5, whereas the first place winner in Group A will represent the club at the Saudi Arabian Toastmasters Annual Contest to be held between April 21-23. Within two years of its inception, Creative Gavel Club, a brainchild of Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) N.C. Mani, a dedicated toastmaster, the club has gained recognition within the Toastmasters fraternity. With the active support and able mentoring by senior toastmasters of the four clubs under Area 25, the club has turned many of the Gaveliers into seasoned orators. Toastmasters is an international organization having presence in most of the countries and enables the members to learn the art of public speaking in a friendly and self paced environment. The Toastmasters movement has gained greater strength in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the past one decade.
