On Friday and Saturday, May 17-18, 2024, Jeddah hosted the Saudi Arabian Toastmasters Annual Conference (SATAC 2024) for District 104. The event took place at the Radisson Blu Al Salam Hotel and welcomed an inspiring group of influential figures and community leaders. The conference was supervised by Toastmasters leaders and socially sponsored by the World Federation of Muslim Scouts.
This year’s conference theme was “Shaping the Future,” celebrating the 100th anniversary of Toastmasters International. The organization aims to build and develop communication and leadership skills among its members. In Saudi Arabia, Toastmasters clubs hold regular meetings and annual competitions to enhance and practice these skills.
In addition, the conference was attended by 250-400 people and featured a variety of competitions in speech, presentation, and communication. These included Arabic and English contests, as well as a special category for women. The contests were divided into four tracks: International Speech (in English), Humorous Speech, Evaluation, and Table Topics. The winner of the International Speech Contest will represent Saudi Arabia and District 104 at the World Championship of Public Speaking in the USA.
Opened with a warm welcome for guests, the conference started with guests receiving gifts like a tote bag and SATAC 24 magazine. The main hall (Al Sultana) hosted the opening ceremony, which included Quran recitations, the Saudi national anthem, and a banner parade representing various clubs and areas of District 104. This was followed by motivational speeches from district leaders and the official launch of the SATAC magazine.
Over the two days, competitors from the western, southern, and northern regions of Saudi Arabia showcased their skills. The event included awards, cultural activities like impromptu debates, and entertaining segments. Notable workshops were led by distinguished trainers such as former Toastmasters International President Mohammed Murad, renowned trainer Essam Qari, and acclaimed author Dr. Majda Abdullah.
Once the conference reached its end, it concluded with the announcement of the contest results:
International Speech Contest:
- Pritpal Kaur Ajimal
- Rumbidzai Madovi
- Mark Lacanilao
Table Topics Contest:
- Abdulrahman Yussef
- Saleh Ba-Khutma
- Mohammed Siraj
Evaluation Contest:
- Sadaqah Wazzan
- Mark Lacanilao
- Abdulrahman Yussef
Humorous Contest:
- Surendrapal Singh Ajimal
- Yasar Ali Dawood
- Saleh Ba-Khutma
Arabic Contest:
Arabic Speech Contest:
1.Adel Aljuhaiman
2.Hassan Al-Baiti
3. Abdallah AlMagroor
Table Topics Contest:
- Abdallah AlMagroor
- Khadijah Alsaigh
- Jalal Melebari
Evaluation Contest:
- Abdallah AlMagroor
- Khadijah Alsaigh
- Abdelellah Alamin
Humorous Contest:
1.Sadaqah Wazzan
2.Menhal Shaghif
3.Abdurrahamn Almutari
Ladies Contest
Arabic Speech Contest:
- Rania Sabig
- Khadijah Alsaigh
- Faten Alqdcy
Table Topics Contest:
- Khadijah Alsaigh
- Maha Al-Deairimm
- Seham Alruwaythi
Evaluation Contest:
- Khadija Alsaigh
- Manal Alsufyani
- Nada Kamas
Humorous Contest:
- Khadija Alsaigh
- Maha Al-Deairim
- Alaa Aljawhari
Gavel Clubs Showcase:
English Contest:
- Nuha Khan
- Andrea Lisa Shibu
- Manha Raushan
Arabic Contest:
- Aws Al Madani
- Ahmed Kuyati
- Abdulaziz Hawsawi
The event was covered by various Arabic and English media outlets, highlighting its success and impact.
At the end of the conference, sponsors, keynote speakers, and VIP guests like Dr. Abdullah Rashad, were honored, where Dr. Rashad expressed his pride and happiness for attending the event. The SATAC team and district 104 leaders were also recognized, celebrating the conference’s positive reception and making it an exceptional event for the year.
The Program Quality Manager of Sector 104, Mr. Abdulhadi Hawsawi, stated, “When quality planning and preparation meet excellent performance and presentation, excellence and creativity are born. SATAC, or the Annual Saudi Toastmasters Conference, becomes an icon everyone is proud of. We say with one voice, ‘Shaping the future.’ I am proud of everyone who prepared, contributed, participated, supported, and gave their time, effort, and money. Thank you as many times as there are stars in the sky, and special thanks to the dreamer, persevering, ambitious leader of this event, Ms. Samia Baghallab.”
Winner Abdullah AlMagroor said, “Words fail me in expressing my happiness and pride in being an integral part of this grand and significant speech contest. The feeling of change and impact, leaving a positive and inspiring mark on the hearts of those present, is my true, lasting victory.” Rania Sabig said, “Everyone asks me to describe the feeling of winning, and when I hear that, I take a deep breath and say these feelings are indescribable, no matter how much I talk about them. They are the result of deep thinking, continuous training, and limitless giving for months until we reached the final moment of SATAC 24. I don’t believe it’s the end because the taste of victory is sweeter than I expected.”
Sadaqah Wazzan mentioned, “Participating in speech contests has significantly impacted my educational journey and skill development, which is the primary goal of the competitions. Winning first place in humorous speeches, a skill I thought I lacked, is the best evidence of this development.” Khadijah Alsaigh said, “Winning was not just a result of the performance on stage but a culmination of a long journey of learning and personal growth. The moment of announcing the results was filled with tension and anticipation, and when I heard my name, I was overwhelmed with indescribable joy. I realized at that moment that I had surpassed my personal limits and achieved something I dreamed of.”
Winner Surendrapal Singh Ajimal expressed, “I am grateful to SATAC 24 and Toastmasters international for being the platform where I got this opportunity to stand as a district champion. I would not have discovered and presented my humorous aspect in a more meaningful way. Although, being a Toastmasters club member and a mentor has been a highly rewarding experience, especially with the gavel clubs, this win is a payback to self for daring the unexplored side of mine that has encouraged and humbled me at the same time and I am more convinced that impossible is possible”.
Pritpal Kaur Ajimal, who will represent Saudi Arabia in the Region Competition, said, “Standing as a district champion, SATAC 2024, indeed came as the opportunity to do it for real and now it is a credible reality of my life. Being a gavel club president as a teenager, gave me the confidence as an adult to be the founding president of a Toastmasters club at my college, and the four wins at SATAC youth showcase in a row, became the foundation for starting off my further journey as a Toastmaster with a bang that will resound and remind me in times of challenge that I can do it. I shall remain deeply grateful to Toastmasters international and SATAC for being the most effective catalyst that transformed my life from just an ordinary person to what I am today. Being a Toastmaster is indeed an awesome experience, a big heartfelt gratitude to Toastmasters International and SATAC 24 team.”
Moreover, Ms. Samia Baghlaf, Chairwoman of the Organizing Committee of SATAC 2024, expressed her happiness with the success of the conference, which took almost a year of work to bring out in this outstanding manner. She also mentioned her gratitude to Sector 104 leaders, especially the distinguished Toastmaster Abdulhadi Hawsawi, who entrusted her with leading SATAC this year, and to the SATAC team and its members who worked day and night to make this event special. She also congratulated all the winners and participants for reaching this stage and thanked all attendees, keynote speakers, sponsors, and supporters of the conference, stating that this year truly shaped the future for the coming years, God willing.
SATAC 24 was definitely a unique and one-of-a-kind experience, leaving everyone with positive feelings and made them look forward to participating in the upcoming event.
