Last month, Al Manarah Toastmasters (the student-led KAUST chapter) visited other Toastmasters clubs in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines in order to exchange ideas and in the spirit of Toastmasters, to connect people around the world. Represented by Klemens Katterbauer, Al Manarah Toastmasters met with the President of Vietnam Toastmasters, and with the leader of UBS Toastmasters in Singapore as well as the President of Singaporean Airlines Toastmasters club.
Katterbauer also had the pleasure in participating in the Singaporean Institute of Management Toastmasters meeting (see photo) where participants were impressed by the professionalism and quality Al Manarah Toastmaster members have as well as the members of District 79 (Saudi Arabia) in general. After visiting Singapore, Al Manarah Toastmasters met with the Toastmaster Division Governor of Mindanao, District Treasurer for the Philippines and two former District governors of District 73 (Philippines) in Davao for exchanging knowledge, networking, and opportunities of collaboration.
The student-led Toastmasters chapter at KAUST aims to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every individual member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth. This group holds a weekly session to practice public speaking and leadership in a friendly and supportive atmosphere with continuous constructive feedback. The group won a number of regional competitions in the last academic year and was the first student-led group to be established at KAUST and is sponsored by Graduate Affairs. For more information about Al Manarah Toastmasters, contact: Klemens.Katterbauer@kaust.edu.sa.