From Stage Fright to Facilitator
My name was called for Table Topics at an open house meeting at SOS Toastmasters in Dar es Salaam in 2019, and my mind went blank. I had attended with friends, intending only to observe. Instead, I found myself standing in front of the room, wishing I had remained in my seat. My voice felt unsteady and my thoughts refused to organize themselves. I finished quickly and decided public speaking was not for me. That evening should have been my first and last meeting. Instead, a friend paid my six-month membership fee before I could change my mind. That single act kept me in the room long enough for growth to begin.
My first prepared speech did not come easily. I delayed it several times until my mentor, DTM Suresh Kumar, guided me patiently and kept me accountable. At home, my then 21-year-old daughter Sayyada, helped me shape my story. I was nervous on the day of delivery, but I completed it, and that moment strengthened my confidence.
A Journey into Leadership
During COVID, when the VPPR had to relocate, the Vice President Education asked me to assist. Although I felt unprepared, I agreed. That decision marked the beginning of my leadership journey. After transferring to Dar Toastmasters, I served as Vice President Education and later as President. District 114 later entrusted me with the role of Area Director. I also mentored a club and now serve as a coach.
Organizing the Area open house and conducting Club Officer Trainings became defining growth experiences. These responsibilities required coordination, structure, and clarity. They pushed me to think beyond my own development and focus on enabling others to succeed. Standing before club leaders demanded preparation and accountability at a higher level.
Throughout this journey, feedback remained central to my growth. Toastmasters taught me to view evaluation as a tool rather than a threat. Not every comment was comfortable, yet each one offered direction.
Building Amani Empowerment Hub
Another important influence has been TM Atul Sankar. Although he joined Toastmasters after me, he became a consistent source of encouragement. When I shared my desire to serve beyond the club environment, he challenged me to formalize the vision. His questions about purpose and structure helped transform an idea into action. His encouragement played a meaningful role in the creation of Amani Empowerment Hub, and I continue to value his advice today.
The transition from Toastmasters member to Amani Empowerment Hub facilitator developed gradually as I noticed teenagers struggling with confidence and adults overwhelmed by stress. I realized the communication and leadership skills I gained through Toastmasters, combined with my interest in psychology and mental wellbeing, could serve a wider community. My first Amani Empowerment Hub workshop, delivered to Dar Toastmasters on stress management, confirmed this direction.
Community Impact
Toastmasters remains central to everything I do. District 114 provided the environment where I learned discipline, resilience, and service. It gave me mentors who invested in my growth and colleagues who challenged me to improve. Today, as I continue to mentor and coach within the District, I recognize the full circle of this journey.
What began as stage fright in a small meeting room in Dar es Salaam has evolved into facilitation, leadership, and community impact. Toastmasters did not remove fear overnight. It taught me how to act despite it.
Amani Empowerment Hub stands as a continuation of that lesson, helping others:
- Find their voice
- Structure their thoughts
- Strengthen their mental wellbeing
- Navigate a chaotic life with clarity and confidence