After giving up some of their Saturday free time for the past three months, young students at Sandys Middle School have learned the skills of public speaking, conflict resolution and more.

They are the first young Bermudians to complete the 10-week Bermuda Toastmasters Youth Leadership Programme, and the transformation in their confidence levels and skills has been significant, according to Sherrie Outerbridge.

She is past president of the Toastmasters, and together with Enda Matthie set about on a mission at the end of last year to teach younger people the life skills of communication, leadership and conflict resolution that come from learning public speaking.

The programme required the youngsters to show equal commitment by sacrificing some of their weekend to attend the sessions at the middle school.

In return they were tutored on how to speak in public, how to effectively put their thoughts into words and how best to frame their communication. It wasn't all about having the ability to speak at a public function, as it was about nurturing self confidence and working out issues and conflicts through words rather than resorting to violence.

Ms Outerbridge praised the commitment of the students in seeing through the programme of their own volition.

"It has been a tremendous experience for them when they have so many other things they could go and do at weekends — such as football for the boys or dancing for the girls.

"It has been a challenge for them, but I commend them for sticking with it," said Ms Outerbridge.

At the end of the programme, the youngsters gave speeches that encapsulated their experience and what it had meant to them personally and from a family perspective.

"We have taught them how to have confidence and how to stand up and speak with passion, and we taught them conflict resolution," said Ms Outerbridge.

"We have given them life skills and hope they take these skills and pass them on to others at Sandys Middle School and go on to debating classes."

The youngest participant Jaidah Bailey, who does not start at Sandys until later this year, was awarded the prize for most improved of the entire group. The Bermuda Toastmasters awarded special plaques to the school and also the Ministry of Education for its assistance in turning the youth leadership programme into a reality.

In September it is hoped the sessions will return, and possibly run in tandem with a similar programme at the Berkeley Institute.