Fereshta Najib from Grey Court School was crowned champion of the regional final of Jack Petchey’s “Speak Out Challenge.”
This achievement came after her powerful speech titled, “I am an Afghan Girl…who are you?” was met with praise from judges at Waldegrave School on March 13, 2025.
The speech urged the audience to take action and raise awareness against the oppression of Afghan women and girls, emphasising the need to speak for the silenced.
The annual event, organised by Speakers Trust and supported by the Jack Petchey Foundation, saw more than 30,000 Year 10 students aged 14-15 from over 500 state schools in London and Essex compete.
Having impressed the panel of judges including Dominic Mackie, Wendy Smith, Alesha Bhakoo, Lucy Brodure, Dr Cillian Ó Fathaigh, and Emilia Lane, Fereshta is now set to compete in the online semi-finals alongside 37 other regional champions.
The final 15 will be selected for the grand final at the Cambridge Theatre on July 7.
Fereshta is confident and hopeful, saying: “In the end I spoke from the heart and that’s all that matters.”
The regional champion received a £100 gift certificate and is now aiming for the grand final of the competition.
The winner of the grand final will receive a £5,000 prize, of which £3,000 is for their school.
Previous winners of the grand final have gone on to achieve great success, including acting in Hollywood and critically acclaimed projects, becoming influencers, selling businesses for six figures, and becoming public speakers.
Her eloquence and passion, displayed in her winning speech, are qualities shared by past winners including actors Jamie Flatters and Idris Sobande, and entrepreneurs Tim Armoo and Mike Omoniyi.
The runner-up title was awarded to Naomi Jones of Orleans Park School for her speech, “The Joy of Reading.”
Third place went to Matilda Branford of Christ’s Church of England Comprehensive Secondary School, with a speech advocating the value of failure as a learning opportunity on the path to success.
The speakers were congratulated by the Mayor of Richmond and Twickenham, Richard Pyne, who said: “When you get out there into the world, you have to be able to speak in public, and it’s better if you’ve done it early on, and build your confidence from a very early stage.
“It’s great for you in a work context.
“It’s great for you in a social context.
“And if you’ve done it now at the age of 15/16, or where, you’ll find a great deal easier in a few years time.
“This evening, you’ve shown the guts and the courage and it will serve you very well throughout your life.
“Well done.”
The competition is part of a programme that provides students with the skills and confidence to develop and deliver a speech on a topic important to them, aimed at amplifying young voices.
