First Speech [Smile Train Project]

When I read that Dr Hirji Adenwalla raised funds for the cleft repair surgeries by giving talks, that gave me the idea to do the same. So I decided that my way of raising funds would be to go around and give talks and raise money that way.

So before I could go and venture out, I needed to be criticized and evaluated by the people I'm most comfortable with- and who better than my fellow Toastmasters:)

This morning I picked up the 4X8 feet banner from Uncle Adino's place. The banner would be for where donors would sign and I'd bring it to Kerala to personally hand it over along with the funds. He has done extremely AMAZINGLY well for the banner because I only handed it in on Tuesday and despite the fact that it required 3 days to print, we had to do a lot of editing and changes and in the end, he got it done over one night. Thank you Uncle Adino:)

Because I was caught up with microbiology and preparations for the sports carnival, I never got to practice my speech. I was able to finalize it last night and started really practicing it and timing it this morning before the presentation. Needless to say, my hands and feet felt numb and cold.

Giving a speech is like studying for a test. You keep the words in, you practice it all day and night and you take mental notes for the key points. But JUST before the big thing, your mind goes blank and you think- can I really do this?

But Alhamdulillah, all I had to do was remember the first line and everything came flowing out til the very end:) The best thing I like during my speech giving was directly looking at people's eyes and seeing them nodding in agreement and having their rapt attention. I think that is the most gratifying reward for a speaker:)

Since it was a toastmaster speech, I think people didn't know that I was actually raising money for real. So my mom told me to announce that I was really going to Kerala and handing over the funds and banner and only then people were more aware of it.

At the end of the meeting, people came up to me and said they wanted to contribute:) I was really happy that this project was REALLY taking off! There were other people who came up to me and congratulated me and said: Alia, you're doing an amazing job. Keep it up:) May God bless you. Some people just unhesitatingly handed me an RM50. At first I was so awed and I felt so touched. Even so, every single ringgit counted and I really do appreciate each and every contribution. I'm glad MIM KL was the first I went to:) They are really supportive. In the end I collected an amazing RM 185. I got pointers on how to better improve my speech and make it more impactful when I deliver it at other places. I got signatures on my banner. And I got suggestions on where else to give my talks.

I have to make improvisations along the way because this is my first time. So a few things I learnt from this was:

• Prepare a receipt to give donors- Name, Amount Donated
• Keep a logbook of donors and amount donated
• Bring permanent markers next time!
• Bring along a donation BOX for people who'd prefer to be anonymous
• Prepare a standard letter to request for a donation drive

I'm confident and all set now!

Thank you's:

Ummi and Ayah for supporting me throughout til today.

Aki for messaging me on the morning itself; it means a lot to me:)

Uncle Adino for making the banner ON TIME even though I was late.

Zahid for surprising me and making it to the meeting just to give me support (alpemoca).

Fellow MIM KL Toastmasters and Contributors:)