Meet Grand Finalist Halle Yangin

In 2020 Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out” Challenge! Grand Final took to the airwaves – for the first time ever we broadcast around the world from a London film studio via YouTube. All but a handful of last year’s finalists shared their messages at digital events rather than live on stage. But things have changed and we are thrilled that this year the Grand Final will return to its home in the heart of London’s West End, the Cambridge Theatre on Monday 29th November. The count down is on!

More than 20,000 year 10 students from state schools in London and Essex took part in the “Speak Out” Challenge! this academic year, just fifteen students have become 2021 Grand Finalists.

All of this year’s finalists are Digital Champions whose pre-recorded speeches were broadcast as Zoom webinars to an audience of friends, families, teachers, the finalists themselves and of course, a panel of esteemed judges.

In no particular order meet Grand Finalist Halle Yangin!

Her speech ‘Are you deaf?’ earned her and her school, Chislehurst School for Girls, first place in her Digital Final in September. Halle tells us she is a member of the deaf community, and uses her insights to share some of her experiences of discrimination.

We asked Halle, what is your favourite saying or quote?

“I  can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.” – Maya Angelou 

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

When allowing the youth of our society to speak up about issues and ideas they have, you pave the way for an entire new generation of figures, that will have the confidence to use their voices.

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

I’d like them to take away the understanding that there is power to words and that they have more of an impact than you think.

Watch Halle’s speech.