Commit to Change
The world's local bank- Hong Kong – Diversity grant
- Global – iNet
- Korea – Seoul English Village
- UK – Supporting Chinese language instruction
- UK – WWTlearn
- Global – The English-Speaking Union
- United Arab Emirates – Sharjah Women's College
- Global – HSBC Chevening scholars
- UK and China – Work experience programme
- UK, China, India, South Africa and Egypt – Rivers of the world
- United Arab Emirates – English Language Programme
- Bahrain – Star School
- Hong Kong – Scholarship schemes
- UK – The Science of Survival
Global – The English-Speaking Union
The English-Speaking Union (ESU) was founded in 1918 to promote 'international understanding and friendship through the use of the English language' and now has branches in more than 50 countries across five continents.
Since 1989, HSBC has sponsored the International Public Speaking competition – the culmination of individual country public speaking competitions, where the best speakers represent that country at the international final in London.
Participants prepare a five-minute speech on a given theme, after which there is a two-minute period when they must answer questions from the audience. A panel of judges scores the speeches based on substance, technique, the speaker's ability to deal with the audience's questions, and the general effectiveness of the presentation.
As part of its support, HSBC also hosts a lunch and tour of its global headquarters by the international competitors.
The winner of the international competition is invited back to the UK later in the year to be presented with his or her prize by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, president of ESU.
To find out more about ESU internationally or in your area, click here.
International Public Speaking Competition 2007
In total, 59 students representing 34 different countries took part in this year’s final, which was held in the American Embassy, London on Thursday, 17 May. After heats earlier in the day, eight finalists from Australia, Bulgaria, Chile, China, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Moldova and Yemen gave speeches on the theme 'Dynamic Earth'.
After a close competition, Yemen’s Ali Hussein Saleh Mohammed lifted the winner’s trophy with his speech entitled ‘Planning for a World with Light Water’. Vikram Joshi from Australia was the runner-up, as well as audience choice, and Xing Chen from China was Best Non-Native English-Speaker. Look at the accompanying photos to see some of the students and special guests, including Deloris Jordan, mother of Michael Jordan, US basketball star, and co-founder of the Michael Jordan Foundation.
To find out more, have a look at Ali's speech and Vikram's speech.
