Twelve-year-old Ayanda Bokaba advised other young people to stand up for themselves when being criticised at an international event in New York.
The Carlswald Preparatory House learner gave a speech on How Criticism Affects People’s Confidence at the Ted-Ed Weekend event in New York, which was held from 17 to18 November.
Ayanda said the topic was important because everyone can relate to being criticised, good or bad. In her speech, she said her granny taught her how to value herself and how to turn something from negative to positive. She wants young and old people to know that there is no single formula for dealing with criticism but it is important to be confident in one’s skin.
At her previous school, her teacher held her back for a year because she was short and thought she would not be able to cope.
She said these types of criticisms were difficult to handle at a young age as she could not do anything to solve the problem.
“Criticism can be a person’s worst enemy. It can make you feel insecure, not good and not sure of who you are. People should learn that their words have an effect on people’s feelings and they should think about what they say,” she said.
Ayanda’s teacher Rhian Johnson said she is proud of her involvement in the event as the youngest participant.
“We are excited for her; she is confident and well-spoken, even though she is nervous, we know she will push through the nerves,” said Johnson.
The principal of Carlswald Preparatory, Stewart Tagg said Ayanda’s personality is a reflection of who they are as a school.
“Ayanda is part of the family. This a big step for her, the school and the community. We also hope to get an autograph before she becomes a celebrity,” smiled Tagg.
The Think Ahead education programme which runs a Ted-Ed Club selected a group of learners to present their topics on the Ted stage.
The managing director of Think Ahead, Michelle Lissoos said the youth of South Africa should be given a platform.
“Think Ahead believes strongly in giving young South Africans a voice,” she said.
The education programme ran a 13-week public speaking curriculum prepared by Ted. At the event, participants shared inspiring performances, participated in hands-on workshops and attended sessions of Ted Talks.
Ayanda concluded that criticism was not the easiest thing to deal with but people must change their mindsets on how they communicate.
“It is not about what we say – it’s about how we say it.”
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