Edith’s passion for empowering children

DAR ES SALAAM: PUBLIC Speaking is one of the most liberating abilities a person can acquire, as it helps to build self-confidence, a critical asset for success in life.

You can learn the technique at any age, but it’s best to start teaching it to kids while they’re little. Impressing an audience is as easy as sipping a nice glass of water on a hot day if you’ve mastered public speaking.

Debates, morning assemblies, and leadership positions are a few ways that students can hone their public speaking abilities in the classroom.

Students can get the self-assurance they need to thrive in social situations and practice public speaking through these opportunities.

Edith Mwiyombela is a shining example of how to give the next generation the tools they need to succeed.

Through her unique path, she has made her work life and her desire to help young people build confidence and communication skills fit together perfectly.

Edith’s life is an exceptional example of using every opportunity to create a lasting impact, especially on the youth, ensuring that they are equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in both personal and professional spheres.

She is the Senior Manager of Talent Development at CRDB Bank, where she expertly navigates the realms of human resources.

Drawing on her background as a trained Biology and Chemistry teacher, she has spent over 13 years in the field of Human Resource Management, specializing in Learning and Development.

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Outside the walls of her corporate office, Edith devotes her weekends to KOOL Kids Universe, an initiative she founded to coach children and teens in public speaking. Her passion for nurturing young people is reflected in her dedication to this programme, which has become an essential part of her life.

“What drove me to start engaging in these sessions is the gap that I observed in adults over time from different spaces. It is very sad when you come across someone who is quite competent technically, but they are not confident to speak in public,” said Edith.

She further said public speaking is a soft skill that is quite crucial for the young and old.

“I decided to support children with building the skill way early to avoid missed opportunities simply because they have not built the confidence and prepared well to master the skill, they say “Samaki Mkunje Angali Mbichi,” she said In addition to public speaking, Edith nurtures a love for reading in children through her library, which houses over 300 storybooks.

Born and raised in Dar es Salaam, Edith’s roots trace back to Tabora, where her family hails from. She spent her early years attending Forodhani Primary School (now St. Joseph) before moving on to Aga Khan Mzizima Secondary School for her secondary education.

Her passion for science led her to the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), where she pursued a Bachelor of Science with Education, majoring in Biology and Chemistry.

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She later complemented her educational background with a postgraduate diploma in Human Resource Management from the Institute of Finance Management (IFM). Edith excelled in Chemistry throughout her academic journey, a subject she loved thanks to her dedicated Ordinary Level teacher, Ms Jane Shao.

“Every time I look at my A in Chemistry, I remember the encouragement and support Ms Shao gave me,” Edith recalls. Mathematics, on the other hand, proved more challenging, especially at the Advanced Level.

Despite struggling with the subject, Edith’s perseverance and resilience helped her maintain a positive outlook on learning. Edith credits much of her success to the discipline and strong values instilled in her by her parents.

Her father, the late Mr Paschal Mwiyombela, and her mother, Scholastica Mwiyombela, played a significant role in shaping her character and work ethic.

“My parents always insisted on the importance of responsibility and hard work,” Edith reflects. These lessons proved invaluable, especially as she took on leadership roles at school. Being selected as the Head Girl in primary school was a turning point in her life, providing her with early opportunities to develop her confidence and leadership skills. “At first, I was very nervous, but over time, I learned to embrace the challenge and speak confidently in front of others,” she explains.

This early exposure to public speaking would later become the foundation of her work with KOOL Kids Universe. Edith recalled her primary school moments how they helped build her confidence in public speaking.

“I used to do Drama or plays; I still have photos to date. I recall I got the opportunity when I was in grade 6 to perform a play in the presence of the former president of Jakaya Kikwete who by then was the minister for Foreign Affairs. I was nervous but it went quite well. I can still recite the words of that play to date,” she said She credited her success story to her English Teacher Ms Simon who gave her the opportunity to be part of the play.

“It is in small moments and opportunities like this that I have been building confidence from. To Ms Simon wherever you are, thank you for giving me the opportunity. Thank you for coaching me so diligently,” Edith said “I still remember how nervous I was, but the experience was unforgettable,” Edith shares.

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These early encounters with public speaking sparked a lifelong love for the craft and inspired her to create opportunities for children to develop their communication skills.

KOOL Kids Universe, which officially began in 2018, initially started with a small group of children, most of whom were friends’ kids. Her first session was hosted in her small living room with children of her friends.

“It was so much fun, and I still have the photos from that day. This reminds me I should frame one of them,” she fondly recalls.

By 2021, Edith had moved the sessions from her living room to a dedicated learning space within her compound. Every Saturday afternoon, she dedicates three hours to teaching public speaking. The success stories are many, and she is fulfilled by watching her students grow in confidence.

“I enjoy spending time with children—their positive energy is refreshing, and I learn a lot from them. They are incredibly knowledgeable and expressive,” she said.

She added, “I urge parents and guardians to encourage their children to participate in a range of clubs and associations that promote extracurricular activities, such as Debate Clubs, Community Service Clubs, Environmental Clubs, and others.” She said Edith said engaging in these activities helps build confidence, develop essential life skills, and provides overall support for their journeys as tahey navigate through life in which ever path, they choose to pursue.