'Speak to inspire, Vietnam' announces tournament champions

Brought to Vietnam by Netflix in partnership with the U.S. Embassy Hanoi, "Speak to Inspire, Vietnam" is organized by NPX Point Avenue, a leading EdTech company.

The competition saw the participation of over 700 contestants, of which 66 were shortlisted to participate in the Final Showcase, culminating in the crowning of the Top 15 Speakers, Storytellers, and Debaters.

Top 66 finalists of "Speak to Inspire, Vietnam" competition.

Aimed at raising awareness and spurring meaningful conversations on sustainability topics like environmental conservation and climate change, "Speak to Inspire, Vietnam" brought together over 700 student speakers from 60 provinces and diverse backgrounds to share their experiences and discuss ways to foster greater community engagement to build a more sustainable future.

"I joined this public speaking competition because I see it as my responsibility, and those of my classmates’ and peers’, to engage in important issues that affect us both locally and globally. Climate change is not just found on television news, Netflix documentaries, and social media. It is real and everywhere. This is a rallying point for youth leaders to engage, collaborate, and inspire others to work towards a greener planet," shared Nguyen Phuoc Nguyen, Youth Storytelling category participant.

Prior to the final showcase, the tournament’s 66 finalists underwent three-day intensive training in Yen Tu, where they got a chance to learn and interact with over a dozen public speaking and sustainability experts from the U.S., South Korea, and Vietnam, to sharpen their public speaking skills and enhance their understanding of sustainability efforts globally.

The finalists drafted a "sustainability manifesto", promising to contribute the knowledge and skills gained to sustainability efforts in their communities.

Top 15 champions:

Moon Nguyet Phillips awards the winner of the "Youth Debate" category

Moon Nguyet Phillips, director of Public Policy, Southeast Asia at Netflix, said: "It has been remarkable to follow the journey of over 700 young and inspiring students across Vietnam, who have lent their voices to many thoughtful debates and meaningful conversations on topics of sustainability. As we celebrate the winners of this public speaking competition today, we also celebrate the next generation of changemakers for a more sustainable Vietnam."

Ambassador Marc E. Knapper, U.S. Embassy Hanoi, remarked: "I applaud our colleagues at Netflix and Point Avenue for their vision in creating this wonderful opportunity for Vietnamese youth to deepen their knowledge of sustainability. This competition took many months of planning, and it is great to see it come to fruition just prior to Earth Day."

US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper awards the winner of "Senior Debate" category

"It’s been truly inspiring for us to witness the high levels of engagement from Vietnamese youths on the topic of climate change and sustainability. We urge you to continue working collaboratively towards your shared ideas on sustainability to create meaningful change," said Tommy Nguyen, co-founder and COO, NPX Point Avenue.

"Speak to Inspire, Vietnam" started on Jan. 10, 2022. The competition consists of three stages, across three competing categories, including speech, storytelling and debate, aims to raise greater awareness of sustainability and spur meaningful conversations on topics like environmental protection and climate change.

NPX Point Avenue is a leading education technology company in Southeast Asia that provides K-12 private bilingual schooling and K-12 after-school programming. Pairing holistic education with the latest technologies, it specializes in STEAM, English learning, test preparation, competitive debating, admissions consulting, and life coaching. Since 2018, NPX Point Avenue has taught and mentored thousands of students from Vietnam and Thailand to reach their educational goals, including gaining admissions into top global universities.

For more information, visit the website: www.speak2inspire-asia.com.