World Speech Day started with a simple idea: speeches change the world; socially, politically, in the arts, business and religion. They play a profound role in holding our societies together and shaping change. Then why not create a day to celebrate speeches and speechmaking through live public speaking events around the world, reaching out to #unexpectedvouces everywhere?

In 2019 more than 100 nations across the globe have been involved in WSD.

Schools, universities, speakers' clubs, think tanks, community groups, companies, NGOs - all holding meetings in classrooms, auditoria, community halls, even cafes. Proving the unique power of speeches to explore new ideas.

World Speech Day has taken hold and grown not because of any power at the centre, but because of its highly (almost uniquely) devolved structure. It is the tireless work and energy of the event hosts and national Ambassadors which have taken WSD forward so rapidly.

In an exciting new dimension to activities with schools worldwide, in 2020 WSD started partnering with the British Council's "Connecting Classrooms Through Global Learning" initiative and in particular the "Unexpected Voices" speech competition. For more information on the program visit: https://connecting-classrooms.britishcouncil.org/resources/unexpected-voices-competition

In a separate initiative, we are also partnering with the Power of Words Academy for the Unexpected Voices Speech Competition in Canada. Watch this video: https://youtu.be/GVH-52JbCO4

For more information contact Hafsa at admin@powerofwordsacademy.ca

World Speech Day was launched by Simon Gibson (Founder; pictured) at the Athens Democracy Forum in 2015.

Words of Wisdom on World Speech Day

An occasional series of short videos showing excerpts from singular speeches on World Speech Day