Meet Grand Finalist, Rahimah Said Othman Ali

We are delighted to share that this has been the biggest year ever for Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge. Up to 30,000 students have been trained in over 500 schools across all of London and Essex.

Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge provides year 10 students in state schools across London and Essex with public speaking and communication training to increase their confidence, sense of agency and drive to make a difference in society.

During the academic year, over 500 schools have received a free one-day public speaking workshops for their students. The student’s confidence in speaking to an audience, without notes, is measured at the beginning and at the end of the day. During 2022-2023 76% of students have increased their confidence to stand up and talk to a group of people. At the end of the day, every school nominates one student to go on to a Regional or Digital Final, where they compete again other school finalists and their speeches are judged based on content delivery, structure and positive impact by a panel of esteemed judges. After going on to win the semi-finals, our 15 inspirational, articulate, and impressive speakers are now ready to present their speech to you!

We will celebrate the achievements of these awe-inspiring young people in the heart of London’s West End at Cambridge Theatre on Monday 10th July and crown the 2023 “Speak Out” Champion!

In no particular order, meet 2023 Grand Finalist Rahimah Said Othman Ali ! 

Their speech ‘Creative Media: Lights, Camera, Action!’ earned them and their school, Kingsbury High School, first place in this year’s Digital Regional Final. Rahima will be representing the Brent region at the Grand Final. Their speech encourages us to explore and enjoy the vast medium of creative media.

We asked Rahima, what three items or people would you choose to take to a desert island and why? 

A captain’s boat for the travel, some fishing rods for fishing, and a giant coconut crab ( as my first mate )

What is your favourite saying or quote and why?

“Move on Up.” Through every trial and tribulation sometimes the only way is to keep going just to keep your head up high.

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be and why?  

Pasta. There are too many varieties to ever get bored of!

What three top tips on life would you give a Year Seven student? 

Try find the time to invest in your own hobbies outside of school it helps you know what you’re passionate about- and what you’re interested in, try finding clubs that you can get behind- a place for you a chill outside of school, don’t be afraid to make you friends in this new chapter of your life it makes the journey all more exciting.

You could have made a speech anything in the world. Why did you speak about this one subject? 

I chose to speak about creative media because it’s such a fast and rich medium that I love to return to, time after time. It’s a staple of who I am with all its different genres, cultures and varieties it’s hard to not to love.

Why do you think it’s important for young people, like you, to share their stories?

It’s important for young people to share their stories because it lets them know that they have a voice. and sharing their stories no matter how bitter or sweeter it is, can make the world a much more knowing and understanding place.

How could this experience help you further any passions you have?

The experience has encouraged me to explore more things outside of school helping me helped me build upon my own passions that encourage me to discover new things that I can share and enjoy with others.

And finally, how would you like people to think / act differently from hearing your story?

I would love for people to be more confident in exploring the vast medium creative media not being afraid to look back at the old as well as the new finding different ways to enjoy creativity through games, genres, shows and movies as well as having fun with all the different qualities and styles it has to offer.

Watch Rahima‘s winning speech: