Rotary Youth Speaks

Challenge your debating abilities and build confidence in public speaking as you perform, persuade, and entertain the audience with your display of knowledge of a topic of your choosing.

In this public speaking competition, Rotary Youth Speaks, teams of three young people adopt the roles of Chairperson, Speaker and the third person gives a Vote of Thanks.

Participants can select a topic that is important to them, allowing them to delve deep into research, formulate ideas, and expand their knowledge.

Taking part helps build self-confidence and develop public speaking skills, including how to keep an audience engaged.

Entrants can take part in the Intermediate (ages 11-13) or Senior (14-17) categories (ages as of 31st August 2025).

Download the 2025/26 competition Information Pack and Poster  and contact your local Rotary club for an entry form.

Our public speaking competitions

This competition is one of two public speaking competitions designed to encourage young people to develop the creative and presentation skills essential to the art of public speaking.

Details for the other competition, Rotary Youth Speaks: A Debate, can be found here.

Each Rotary district and cluster (groups of districts) choose which of the two public speaking competitions they will or will not be running. There is no national final for either of them. Reach out to your local Rotary club to find out what is on offer in your local area, and the specific entry details and dates.