QNA

DOHA TOASTMASTERS Club, a group aiming to enhance communication and leadership skills of its members, will set up two more clubs in Arabic language in the next two months in the Qatar Division ‘E’ of the global nonprofit educational organisation.

Arabic TM Club Coordinator and President of Filcom International TM Club Hamad al Nesf said, “Any person living in Qatar or outside who is interested in developing his or her public speaking and leadership skills in Arabic language can join the two clubs we are planning to launch over the next two months.” Qatar currently has around 900 members comprising Qataris and expatriates in the 33 clubs, which include one in Arabic - the Qtel Arabic TMs Club.

Qatar TM Clubs are part of an Area. Each Area comprises an average of four clubs. There are eight areas which make up Qatar, which is Division ‘E’ and this, in turn, is part of District 20 comprising Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon and Jordan. Various districts are linked to the global umbrella body that is Toastmasters International (TI) founded by Ralph C Smedley. He held the first meeting in 1924 in a basement in a YMCA in Santa Ana, California, US which subsequently grew to become TI as it is now recognised.

During the early 1900s, the word ‘toastmaster’ referred to a person who proposed the toasts and introduced the speakers at a banquet. Smedley named his group ‘The Toastmasters Club’ because he thought it suggested a pleasant, social atmosphere appealing to young men. Over 88 years, the organisation, which hones members’ speaking and leadership skills through learn-by-doing workshops and projects, has expanded to 280,000 members worldwide.

These members improve their skills by attending one of the 13,500 clubs in 116 countries that make up the organisation’s global network.

Qatar citizens and residents testify to the qualitative improvement in their communications and leadership skills after joining TMs.

Qtel Public Relations Director Fatima Sultan al Kuwari, who is a TM member since 2007, said, “Being a TM has helped me a lot. Within the first few meetings I noticed the difference in my public speaking skills. It is a self-learning process since there is no instructor. Fellow members evaluate one another’s talk or speeches on a given topic. This feedback process is a key part of the programme’s success.” Addressing an audience is the second most fearful event in the world after death, she said and candidly added, “I had goose bumps when I had to first make a public speech. Now I’m confident of facing any audience. I can speak clearly and confidently and express my opinions on any given topic.”