By: Usman Fambuleh
The Patriotic Advocacy Network (PAN) will host the fourth edition of its annual Public Speaking for Girls Competition on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at the Bank Complex in Kingtom, Freetown.
The competition will be held under the theme, “Her Voice, Her Choice: Girls Speaking for a Better Tomorrow,” with the aim of empowering young girls to develop their communication, leadership and advocacy skills.
The competition is one of PAN’s flagship initiatives, designed to train, mentor and inspire girls to become confident speakers and responsible leaders. It also seeks to equip them with the skills to speak out against social challenges affecting their lives and communities.
The fourth edition will feature an inter-school competition in three categories: public speaking, music and spoken-word poetry. Each participating secondary school will be represented by three students, who will showcase their talents and share their views on pressing social issues.
Participants are expected to address issues including gender-based violence, educational equity, early marriage, substance abuse, inequality, injustice and female empowerment.
Preliminary rounds will be held in secondary schools across the Western Area Urban and Western Area Rural districts to select finalists for the main competition. The selection process will give students from both districts an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and compete for a place in the final event.
Through the initiative, PAN aims to provide a platform for girls to express their views, build confidence and contribute to discussions on issues affecting their education, rights, safety and future opportunities.
The programme also seeks to encourage girls to participate in leadership and decision-making processes and use their voices to promote positive change in their communities.
PAN has invited institutions, organizations and individuals interested in partnering with or sponsoring the competition to contact the organization on +232 77 459 773.
The competition is expected to bring together students to demonstrate their talents, exchange ideas and advocate for a better future for girls and their communities.