JEDDAH — Toastmasters International was started in 1924 in California, US, by a man who believed that the path to success was through the power to effectively communicate and efficiently lead. Since its beginning, about 4 million people from approximately 14,000 clubs in 116 countries have benefited from Toastmasters and the wide variety of skills that it teaches. Contrary to popular belief, Toastmasters is not simply a meeting place for people to gather and practice giving speeches, neither does it have to do anything with bread. Toastmasters International teaches a wide variety of skills not limited to public speaking; it also includes leadership skills, teamwork, ethics, giving constructive criticism, accepting feedback objectively among many other things, although public speaking is a major part. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) in the US did a recent survey and according to them the number one job skill that all employers look for is communication. They also said that about 85 percent of people who are denied jobs have an inability to communicate effectively. The ability to speak confidently and convincingly in public, or to a stranger, is an asset to anyone who wants to take an active role in their classroom, workplace, or community. It will take away your fear and nervousness, as well as increase your self-confidence. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, called the District 79, is one of the most rapidly growing and eloquent Toastmasters districts globally. There have been more distinguished Toastmasters in Saudi Arabia in the past couple of years than most countries, even native English speaking countries such as Australia. The Kingdom has also shown some of the fastest growing rates, equaling that of China and South Asia, in terms of members. The Kingdom has also won the award for the Best District of the Year in 2011, a highly competitive award of great prestige and honor. The award is given annually by Toastmasters International themselves after evaluating the performance of every district. The Toastmasters clubs took their first steps in Saudi Arabia in 1978 with the Dhahran Toastmasters Club. Since then, Toastmasters has rapidly expanded and now has 170 chartered clubs all over the Kingdom with 6,000 members approximately. Some of the largest clubs in the Western region include the Tanglaw Toastmaster Club (first club in the Western Region, established 1995), Abdul Latif Jameel Club, and Nesma Holding Company's Toastmaster Club. Toastmasters not only help men but also women, both of whom have used the clubs as a powerful tool to further enhance their professional as well as personal goals. Umar Abdul Salam, English instructor at Prince Sultan College, Jeddah, said: “I used the skills learned in Toastmasters to teach my students how to confidently express their ideas and answer with ease.” Toastmasters clubs are also present in most colleges in the Kingdom, including Dar Al-Hekma, Effat University and Prince Sultan College. Salem Al-Batarfi, a student at Prince Sultan College for Tourism and Business in Jeddah, said: “Toastmasters is a really fun way to improve myself. It has taught me how to be more confident and comfortable while talking to others, especially in English. I would encourage my friends to join it, too.” Toastmaster International welcomes people of all nationalities, religions and age groups. You walk in to warm smiles and you see people from such diverse walks of lives gathered solely based on their common passion: to excel at what they do. Besides, these clubs provide an excellent opportunity to build and expand your network, something which is essential, particularly for students looking to enter the brutal financial industry. The overall mission of the Toastmasters Club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication skills, which in turn fosters self-confidence and personal growth.
