The We Speak team

Fazira studies Computer Science at Goldsmiths, University of London.

"Joining the We Speak program has really helped with my confidence and self esteem.

I really look forward to helping young people find the courage and confidence to speak in front of an audience."

Leah graduated from the Royal Holloway University of London with an MA in Creative Writing.

“There is this sensation of thrill that comes over me before public speaking; it's the kind of thrill that anxiety can't beat. 

I’m looking forward to working with We Speak, and helping to spread confidence to young people that are passionate about speaking.”

Ilaria recently graduated from the University of Westminster, studying English Literature.

“Low self-esteem and shyness have always accompanied me in my life experiences. WeSpeak taught me that when it comes to speaking in public we’re all in the same boat. 

My passion is to represent and help students reach their potential and being a We Speak facilitator allows me to encourage and inspire young people to make the most of their abilities.”

Salem is currently studying English with Creative Writing at Queen Mary University of London.

“Before I speak in

front of an audience, I usually feel a mix of anticipation and excitement which is replaced by relief and delight once I begin. 

I'm excited to work with We Speak because it is a brilliant way of helping other young people who have been in the same position as me to develop their skills and I will be able to contribute in creating the same supportive environment that I experienced on the programme.”

Desire recently graduated from MA User Experience Design at the University of the Arts London.

“Thanks to the We Speak programme, I have greatly increased my confidence and enthusiasm when speaking in front of large groups. The mentors were excellent at providing guidance. 

I'm looking forward to working in a team that encourages and motivates other young people to reach their full potential and be the best they can be.”

Giulia is a recent graduate of Experimental Linguistics at UCL.

“My favourite thing about the We Speak programme is seeing students develop these skills and become more comfortable speaking in front of people

I enjoy public speaking and think it's a great way to show my passion/interest in a given subject or topic.  

I want to help others feel more confident in their abilities and teach them ways to overcome the fear of speaking in front of a big audience. ”

Halona recently graduated from East 15 Acting School, with an MFA Acting (International).

“I was an extremely shy and socially anxious child and found it difficult to speak to people. It wasn't until I went to university that I began to realise how much personal empowerment there was in public speaking.

Especially as a Black woman, there have been a lot of barriers put up to discourage me from finding my voice and speaking my truth. I hope that as a Lead Facilitator I can help remove these barriers for others from disadvantaged groups.”

Ramya graduated from the University of Birmingham with an MSc Management: Leadership and Change.

“There were times when I avoided presentations and speaking in front of people due to the fear of being judged or saying the wrong things.  

I empathise with students who have a voice, but struggle to articulate their ideas in a way where it will create an impact. I want to empower people and reinforce the idea that there is no limit as to what you can achieve!”

“I used to be terrified to speak to an audience, especially in school. Since then I have learnt that I have important things to say; I have found my voice and can keep my cool when having to speak in front of people. 

I am looking forward to spreading my confidence to others and seeing them smash through the barriers that might have stopped them before.”

“When speaking in front of a large group, I often feel nervous at first but then become more confident. 

I enjoyed working with the other facilitators in the We Speak programme, and I feel inspired to help others find confidence in their voice after finding my own.”

Melissa studies Medicine at UCL.

“I enjoyed the informal nature of the programme and I’m getting more confident speaking in front of an audience 

I think public speaking is such an important skill to have in life and I want to create a safe and fun environment for others to develop this skill.”

Kelsie-Lea is a recent graduate from University of Salford, studying Theatre and Performance Practice.

“I feel confident and excited to speak in front of a group or audience. As someone who struggled with confidence when I was younger, I know how vital it is to feel confident in public speaking. 

I want to work with We Speak to be able to support and encourage people in their journey of developing their confidence, so life can become a whole lot easier for them and they won’t have to struggle alone.”

Kandice currently studies Biblical and Inter Cultural Studies at All Nations Christian College.

“I have built experience over the years in speaking to groups of various sizes. It's always a challenge but becomes more enjoyable with practice.

I'm passionate about working with We Speak to help students value and nurture their authentic voice, enabling them to overcome barriers and confidently access opportunities that give them a seat at any table they choose.”

Charday studies Economics and Finance at the University of Sussex.

“I am very anxious talking in front of people, especially when I don’t have a script to read off. The programme definitely increased my confidence in speaking in front of an audience. 

Confidence is an issue that many people struggle with so I’m looking forward to working with We Speak and helping people that are in the same position I have been in.”

Noshin is a recent graduate from Goldsmiths, University of London. They studied Computer Science.

“I used to feel anxious and nervous speaking in front of a group. After the We Speak programme, I started to feel more confident, and that allowed me to freely speak on topics I was passionate about. 

I now feel better prepared and excited about speaking in front of people.”

Natalie is a student at London College of Fashion. She is currently studying Fashion Design and Development.

“I used to be very shy and start to panic whenever I spoke in front of people, but after the We Speak course I’ve felt so much more confident talking in front of others. 

Everyone on the programme was so lovely and positive and it really helped boost my confidence.”

Norah currently studies Bioveterinary Sciences at the Royal Veterinary College.

“I enjoyed the friendliness of all the mentors and facilitators. 

I’m looking forward to working with We Speak as it will be nice to see the progress of people over the programme, similar to how I saw the facilitators be fully invested and supportive when I completed the programme.”

Angelique graduated from Goldsmiths with an MA in Black British Writing.

“My confidence in speaking has improved a lot since being on the We Speak programme. 

It will be great to work with We Speak and support other students in the way I was supported. The testament to the programme's result is my even being able to consider contributing as a facilitator. I would never have considered this before.”

Carla is studying for an MA in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice at Queen’s University Belfast.

“Thanks to the We Speak programme, I am learning to speak with confidence and conviction!

I am so excited to work with We Speak as I have experienced first hand the incredible work that they do and how the programme has the ability to transform people's speaking ability and confidence.”

Jahnavi currently studies Veterinary Medicine at the Royal Veterinary College.

“The WeSpeak course has taught me some useful techniques that have made the idea of public speaking much less scary!

I feel less anxious about speaking in front of an audience than I used to - it really helps remembering that your audience is rooting for you!”

Eve studies Childhood and Youth Studies at the University of Sussex.

“I always have butterflies before speaking in front of an audience but now I also have a sense of pride and am excited to pass on knowledge and skills I can share! 

I'm excited to be working within the We Speak team to provide that empowering environment that I experienced to help people find their voices.”

Baveena is studying Medicine at King’s College London.

“My confidence in speaking in front of people has definitely grown through the We Speak programme. 

There are so many people out there with amazing thoughts and ideas who just haven't got the confidence to convey them. They could have the exact solutions we've been searching for, or the next innovations that we've been waiting for, but we will never know unless we help them find their voice.”

Elif recently graduated from Goldsmiths, University of London with an MA in Digital Media.

“As a person living abroad, I know what kind of difficulties you may face if the language spoken in the country you are visiting is not your mother tongue.  

I’m looking forward to working with We Speak and students lacking confidence, to help their university life be much more productive and enjoyable.”

Habiiba studies Media and Communications at Goldsmiths, University of London.

“I struggled with speaking confidently for a very long time so I would love to provide the help I was given to students who are in the same boat as I was. 

I really enjoyed how encouraging the programme environment was. After the first session I felt as if I had the space to improve as well as make mistakes.”

Slavi is currently studying an MA User Experience Design at the University of the Arts London.

“Overall, I feel pretty confident speaking in front of a large group or audience. I love meeting and collaborating with new people.

I’m excited to meet the new cohort of students and support them in their journey towards building their confidence in (public) speaking and hopefully see a meaningful tangible impact on their careers!”

Neisha studies Creative and Professional Writing at University of East London.

“I am very confident about speaking in front of a group of people. 

I want to work with We Speak because I once lacked confidence in speaking, so I would love to help others who have felt the same way I have.”

Taiwo is currently studying Advertising and Marketing at University of Hull.

“I used to feel nervous speaking in front of large groups, but after partaking in the We Speak programme, I gained a lot of confidence. 

I want other people to be confident, find their voice and show up like a Boss.”

Marie is currently studying Modern Languages (French) and Classical Studies at Royal Holloway University of London.

“After completing the We Speak programme, I feel pretty confident about speaking in front of a bigger group. 

I really valued getting tailored feedback from the mentors and I want to help others find the courage to speak up.”

Anastasia currently studies Film and Screen Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London.

“I am a quiet introvert. I really wish that I had found something like We Speak when I was in my late teens or early twenties.  

I enjoyed meeting people on the programme with different levels of confidence and learning from them. It really helped me to receive constructive feedback from the mentors. I'm excited to be a part of the programme that gives this vital support to someone like the younger me.”

Darko studies Business Management at St. Mary's University.

“I am very confident speaking in front of people as I have always enjoyed giving presentations and learning the art of grabbing the attention of the audience.

I want to work with people who lack speaking confidence and help them become their true selves by finding their voice.”

“I’m completely confident speaking in front of people. I have participated in the We Speak programme and particularly enjoyed the warm and friendly environment that the programme provided.

I want to work with We Speak because I have confidence speaking publicly, and I am able to pull from my own experiences to provide effective feedback.”