JEDDAH – The grand finale of a three-month long Youth Leadership Program was held in Jeddah recently. Jeddah Malayalam Toastmasters Club (JMTC) and Pathanamthitta Jilla Sangamam (PJS), a leading Keralite organization, jointly organized the program with the objective of promoting and empowering the future generation to achieve all-round development of personality, as well as to acquire communications and public speaking skills. Chief Coordinator Assain Illikkal opened the concluding session in which JMTC President TM Saji Kuriakose and PJS President Varghese Daniel delivered speeches on the theme “Empowering the future generation.” Contests in the categories of table topic, speech evaluation and prepared speech were held. The first position in each category was bagged by Joshin Joseph, Nesma Naushad, and Marlyn Susan George respectively. The second and third prize winners were Edvin Sunny and Sona Sam (table topic), Joel John Thomas and Nadia Naushad (speech evaluation), and Aleena Cijo and Anusha Sonia Varghese (prepared speech). Winners were given away with certificates and mementos. Masters of ceremony were Feba Mery Biju and Roshin George Roy while Adil Raheem, Rohan Thomas and Christina Koshy were contest masters. Eminent Toastmasters including District 79 Governor Joey Villanueva were present. JMTC officials Saji Kuriakose, Assain Illickal, Sashi Nair, and Children's wing Convener of PJS Mathew Thomas Kadammanaitta coordinated and controlled the program. There had been eight training sessions for the program, which kicked off on November 14. PJS holds sixth anniversary Pathanamthitta Jilla Sangamam (PJS) recently celebrated its sixth anniversary with a wide variety of cultural and artistic programs. The celebrations were inaugurated by Mohammed Abdul Raziq, chairman of International Indian School Jeddah. PJS President Varghese Daniel presided over the function. Several prominent figures and community leaders spoke on the occasion. They included K.M. Sharif Kunju, V.K. Rauf, Musafir, P.P. Rahim, P.M. Mayinkutty, Thomas Vaidyan, Nisamuddin Manakkala, Bashir Karunagappally and John Kuttanam. General Secretary Shashi Nair presented the annual report. Other reports were presented by Naushad Adoor, Takbeer Pandalam and Santhosh G Nair. Merlin Saji spoke about the Youth Leadership Program. Young artists enthralled the audience with their spectacular performance. The cultural programs gave a unique experience to the attendees, according to Anil Kumar, public relations officer of PJS. A drama depicting the life of expatriates away from their homeland as well as different dance forms and songs were performed as part of the celebrations, he said.
