Key players at three ladies’ Toastmasters clubs in Bahrain tell Behnaz Sanjana how being part of the non-profit organisation can lead to a positive change in personality and help to maximise potential.
Angels Toastmasters Club
The club conducts sessions in English every second and fourth Saturday of the month at the Park Regis Hotel in Juffair. Vice President of Public Relations, Leeba Rao, joined in October 2015. “My purpose was to beat my fear of speaking in public or in a group,” she says. “I can now voice my opinion, which I couldn’t before joining.” Leeba also held the same role in 2016. “It wasn’t difficult as I have very supportive and encouraging members who are always ready to help and guide. You just have to show your willingness to do the job,” she says. She describes her journey with Toastmasters as an amazing learning experience filled with fun and positive energy to take back home after every meeting. “This is a platform where you get to meet people from varied backgrounds, who are culturally different, but come together with the same vision. It leads to great social interaction. New members are mostly shy, introverted, unable to stand for themselves, but after a few months I have seen them become more bold, ready to speak up and even ready to debate on any topic,” she says.
Follow @angelstoastmasters on Instagram
Alasima Female Toastmasters Club
Zahraa Yousif holds the position of Vice President of Public Relations at the bilingual club that conducts meetings in Arabic and English. She has been a member of Toastmasters since July 2014, and her aim was to develop leadership and communication skills, which she now helps other ladies of the Bahraini community to do. The club meets twice a month at Capital Society of Islamic Culture. “Once members are comfortable speaking in front of their own clubs, they can speak at the area, division and district levels,” says Zahraa. “I’ve learnt new skills by accepting new responsibilities. There were challenges, but I was lucky to be surrounded by knowledgeable, creative Toastmasters who have always helped me.” She believes that being a Toastmaster helps build good relationships, and can greatly reduce stress and anxiety in one’s life. “Communication skills are the key to developing friendships and building a strong social support network. Members develop leadership skills and confidence in public speaking,” she says.
Follow @alasima_tm on Instagram
Communicate To Achieve (C2A)
This English-language club is a relatively new one and Vice President of Public Relations, Nisha Ranga, has been with it since June 2019. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Friday of the month at the Ahlia University campus. “I was looking to enhance my leadership qualities, improve my communication skills, learn the life skills of being patient, understanding and tolerant towards others’ actions and reactions,” says Nisha, who sums up her purpose as overall personal development. Although she joined only a few months ago, she can already see some changes in herself. Nisha believes that it is important for a woman to join an organisation like Toastmasters. She says: “Women are born thinkers and speakers. But the tuning of what to speak and how to speak comes when you join Toastmasters. Toastmasters teaches us how to plan and deliver constructive thoughts. One learns to focus one’s thoughts and improve one’s overall personality.”
Follow @C2ATMC on Facebook
