Llanelli Rotary Youth Speaks event for schools is a winner

Llanelli’s future, school security, the media’s glorification of war, giving students a political voice and the dangers of social media destroying privacy . . . 

These were among the topics debated in the annual Llanelli Rotary Club Youth Speaks competition held at Llanelli Town Hall.
“The quality of the arguments presented was outstanding and the children taking part reflected great credit on their schools and families,” said the chairman of the judging panel Lt Colonel David Mathias.
The competition saw St John Lloyd win the senior category and Brynwgyn Comprehensive take the junior intermediate section.
Both teams will now progress to the next round of the Rotary competition – zone area and district finals.
The competition attracted entries from Ysgol y Strade, St John Lloyd, Coedcae and Brynwgyn schools.
Lt Col Mathias said: “The standard in the competition was exceptionally high and the competitors made the judging task a very difficult one.”
Llanelli Rotary Club president Hywel Bassett explained that the Youth Speaks event offered an opportunity for Llanelli pupils to gain experience of speaking on a public platform.
He said: “It allows young people to form ideas on significant subjects and learn high standards of expression, presentation and appearance. It also gives pupils the experience of accepting impartial assessments and constructive criticism.”
The competition was run to a national Rotary format which included a question from the floor. The main speaker for each team faced the daunting task of fielding an unrehearsed question from Rotarian Past President JC Williams MBE.
Llanelli Rotary President Mr Bassett added: “The youngsters coped admirably with the questions, not an easy task in front of a full house at the Town Hall.”
Results –
Best Intermediate Team – Brynwgyn (who debated ‘Llanelli’s Future’). Team members – Chair Emma Rowley, Speaker Lily Jones, Vote of thanks proposer Dylan Stewart.
Best Chair – Emma Rowley, Brynwgyn.
Best Speaker – Lily Jones, Bryngwyn.
Best Proposer of Vote of Thanks – Hannah Short, St John Lloyd.
Best Senior Team – St John Lloyd (who debated ‘Student Voice: Valuing Our Vocals’). Team members – Chair Jack Rees, Speaker JosephToft, Vote of thanks proposer Natasha Jenkins.
Best Chair – Jack Rees, St John Lloyd.
Best Speaker – Emyr Al-Rawazik, Ysgol y Strade.
Best Proposer of Vote of Thanks – Abbi James, Coedcae.
The judging panel was – Lt Colonel David Mathias DL (chair), Ann Carlton, Pembrey-based journalist and former Government Opposition political advisor, and the Rev Howard Jones, former teacher and ordained chaplain and one of the stars of Llanelli’s Phoenix Theatre group.
The MC for the evening was Rotarian Past President Robert Lloyd and the timekeeper was Rotarian Dr Kevin Jones.
The event was organised by a team led by Rotarian Mark Evans. Prizes were handed out by Llanelli Rotary Club President Hywel Bassett.
Rotary organises many youth competitions – Youth Speaks, Young Chef, Young Musician, Young Citizen, Young Photographer and Young Writer.
If anybody is interested in entering the club’s 2015 competitions, then please contact school teachers who can then ring Llanelli Schools Rotary Youth Services Coordinator Mark Evans on 07770733334 or email markevans482@talktalk.net
The next Llanelli Rotary youth competition will be the Young Musician event which will be held at Stradey Castle on Sunday, January 25.
Llanelli Rotary Club website - www.llanellirotary.com

Photos:
Top - Best Senior Team with Llanelli Rotary President Hywel Bassett – St John Lloyd, l to r, Natasha Jenkins, Jack Rees, Joseph Toft.
Above - Best Intermediate Team Llanelli Rotary President Hywel Bassett – Brynwgyn, l to r,– Lily Jones, Dylan Stewart, Emma Rowley.

Photo slideshow from the event -