“My Mind Skipped A Beat!” Are you puzzled by what this might mean? Stephen Buabeng-Baidoo has all the answers. That is a title of a speech that won the hearts of many when Buabeng-Baidoo shone in London with his oratory brilliance and witty natural talent. He made South Africa proud when he recently dazzled adjudicators and audiences in the world’s biggest public speaking contest, the English Speaking Union's International Public Speaking Competition (IPSC).

The four day event saw 51 highly capable and competitive pupils from across the world competing to be crowned as the world’s youngest top speaker. With three prizes handed out on the finale, Buabeng-Baidoo took the Audience’s Choice Award.

When he became South Africa’s top young speaker in 2011 after winning the Young Communicator Ambassadors (YCA), it was clear that he is an extra-ordinary 19 year old and a definite national asset. Therefore, it is no surprise that he proudly represented South Africa and left a strong YCA legacy in the global books of young public speakers.

The excited Buabeng-Baidoo says having conquered various obstacles in preparation for this lifetime journey, he is very proud of how he performed and is honoured by the special award he received.

“I knew that I would be up against other very gifted speakers, however, with the intensive training and mentorship I received at YCA, I was confident that I would succeed and make South Africa proud. I am satisfied with how far I got in the international competition and I learnt a great deal from this experience.”

Buabeng-Baidoo was chaperoned by his teacher, Mr Collen Masopoga, and accompanied by YCA’s Project Manager, Nwabisa Mayema, who both worked diligently preparing this rising star to outshine many in London. Mayema is also one of the special adjudicators who sat on the adjudicators’ panel at the semi finals of IPSC.

The IPSC, which was founded 31 years ago, currently reaches over 40 000 students every year in approximately 50 countries around the globe. Like YCA, the competition seeks to provide the youth with vital communications skills and builds confidence to help them to fully reach their potential as prospective future leaders.

Now in its 19th year, YCA, which is sponsored by Anglo American and presented in partnership with the Department of Basic Education and the Sowetan, strives to empower grade 11 and 12 learners from all South African public high schools that speak English as their second or third language.

Since the first YCA was held in 1994, it has grown extensively and has been a leading platform for personal, social and economic upliftment for the youth. The competition continues to produce bright potential future leaders who are currently making vast differences in society and significantly rewriting the future of this country.

Godfrey Gomwe, Executive Director of Anglo American in South Africa says that the YCA is a prolific programme that plays a vital role in the country’s development, and has a considerable impact in the lives of the youth.

“The YCA provides an essential platform for the youth of South Africa, as they do not only acquire exceptional communication skills during their training, but they develop in many facets of their lives such as confidence, leadership, and professional and social skills. This provides hope for the future of our country as the talent inherent in these individuals can only lead to the development of a generation poised to lead South Africa into a new era of change and success.

“It is for this reason that we are proud of our association with the YCA and will continue to support this initiative in order to help rewrite the future of this country through empowering the youth.”

Ends

For further information, please contact:

South Africa

Hulisani Rasivhaga, Media Relations
Tel: +27 (0)11 638 4401

Notes to editors:

Anglo American is one of the world’s largest mining companies, is headquartered in the UK and listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges. Anglo American’s portfolio of mining businesses spans bulk commodities – iron ore and manganese, metallurgical coal and thermal coal; base metals – copper and nickel; and precious metals and minerals – in which it is a global leader in both platinum and diamonds. Anglo American is committed to the highest standards of safety and responsibility across all its businesses and geographies and to making a sustainable difference in the development of the communities around its operations. The company’s mining operations, extensive pipeline of growth projects and exploration activities span southern Africa, South America, Australia, North America, Asia and Europe. www.angloamerican.com