Child 1 Age 6 - 17 (Female)
Program(s) focused in Debate, Public Speaking, Water Sports (multi)
(5) Overall experience
My daughter has been a part of Stand Up and Speak for the more than five years, and her experience has truly been beyond my expectations.
When she first started, she was a quiet, shy girl. Now, I watch her speak with confidence in front of others—it's been an incredible transformation.
What sets this program apart is that they don't just teach the mechanics of public speaking. They focus on helping the kids understand who they are and how to effectively communicate that to the world. I especially love how the peers encourage each other every time; the kids genuinely enjoy watching their friends perform and giving supportive feedback. They really do grow together while being there for each other.
It’s been an invaluable experience that has built her confidence in all aspects of her life. I highly recommend Stand Up and Speak to any family!
(5) Reason for choosing the program
We started with Stand Up and Speak prior to COVID-19 and continued with it throughout the pandemic, which provided a crucial space for my daughter to communicate effectively. I would choose this program over any others because it is more than public speaking—it's about discovering who you are. She went from being a shy girl to one who now speaks with amazing confidence in front of audiences. The experience has been absolutely worth the investment; there were no hidden costs, and the program even offers monetary prizes in competitions, which is a great feature that truly motivates the kids to strive for excellence!
(5) Program quality and activities
The program itinerary truly exceeded my expectations by being so much more than traditional public speaking. It perfectly aligned with my goal for my daughter to find her voice. It's not just about memorizing a speech; the instructors actively engage with the students, going through questions to help them discover and bring out what they genuinely want to talk about. My daughter found the invention projects particularly valuable and enjoyable, where they design a concept, calculate production costs, set a selling price for profit, and present how they will bring their ideas to the world. The organization ensures quality by constantly being on the student's side, providing extra sessions prior to competitions to specifically grow their confidence.
(5) Social dynamics and experience
My child definitely strengthened existing friendships and made new ones, thanks to the incredibly positive and encouraging culture of the program. The environment fostered a true sense of community, where the students are genuinely supportive of one another. We observed no issues related to bullying or exclusion; in fact, the exact opposite was true, as demonstrated by the amazing fact that during a competition, no one leaves, and they all stay to cheer each other on. This peer behavior highlights how strongly the organization promotes and ensures a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive atmosphere.
(5) Skills and growth
My child gained invaluable skills in critical thinking, financial literacy, and confident public communication. They grew significantly by moving beyond simple memorization to truly articulating their own ideas and defending their concepts. The activities that particularly challenged them and pushed them out of their comfort zone were the invention projects, which required them to not only present an idea but also to research materials, calculate production costs, and decide on a profitable selling price, simulating a real-world business pitch. Additionally, the expectation to perform during competitions, knowing their peers were staying to support them, built tremendous confidence in presenting under pressure.
(5) Staff/Instructors/Counsellors
The staff and administration truly stood out for their deep commitment to the students' individual growth and confidence. They are much more than just instructors; their actions demonstrate that they are genuinely on the student's side. Communication was excellent, as they proactively send videos and personalized comments after every session, which is invaluable for continuous improvement. Furthermore, they ensure quality by providing extra, focused sessions prior to competition. This level of attention, which is designed to grow the children's confidence and preparation, shows a highly responsive management approach dedicated to overcoming any challenge. By actively guiding students through questions to discover their own voice, the staff handles potential conflicts by providing focused, personal assistance.
(5) Advice and tips
The advice I would give to someone considering this program is to register immediately—it is far more valuable than standard public speaking classes. Understand that this program is a journey of self-discovery and confidence-building, not just memorizing words. Be prepared to see your child transform and embrace challenging activities like the invention projects, which develop real-world skills like budgeting and presentation.
As for what I wish I had known, it would simply be to understand the depth of the peer support and community sooner; the fact that students stay to cheer for each other during competitions is a beautiful part of the culture that I didn't fully appreciate until we were in it.
Stand Up and Speak is a fantastic program, and our son Arjun has had a great experience. He started off 3 years ago as a hesitant speaker and now thoroughly enjoys and excels at public speaking, thank...
"Stand Up and Speak" was the one extracurricular activity my kids never said no to — and I truly mean that, especially considering how many nos I got for other things I signed them up for.
My kids...
