On 11 January 2025, Hiba Academy Nantong hosted the award ceremony for ‘Voice of Dreams’ an online English speech competition organised by Yangtze Evening Post for students in Jiangsu Province. Distinguished leaders, students, parents and guests from a variety of industries attended to witness this momentous occasion.
The inaugural 'Voice of Dreams' competition allowed students across Jiangsu to develop and showcase their talents, strengthen their spoken English and build confidence. The competition ran from 25 September to 10 December with over 1,800 students from 93 schools across 12 Jiangsu cities submitting recorded entries. Following a rigorous selection process, 208 primary- and secondary-aged contestants stood out, winning awards for originality of content, creativity of expression, oratory skills, emerging talent and more.
“It’s been an honour to collaborate with Yangtze Evening News on ‘Voice of Dreams’. This competition aligns with our mission at Hiba Academy Nantong. We want to nurture children who can build bridges across cultures, and central to that, of course, is communication. By encouraging Jiangsu students to express themselves with conviction, clarity and confidence, we help to bring the world a little closer together.”
——Simon Kenworthy
南通惠立学校校长
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Three contestants, Junfan, Joyce and Ruiyang, were named 'Best Speakers' and invited to attend Hiba Academy Nantong's one-week experiential camp, featuring an immersive bilingual curriculum in a state-of-the-art British boarding school environment. They also had the chance to showcase their outstanding English-speaking skills to resounding applause from the audience.
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Cao Jianxin, Professor of the School of Foreign Studies at Nanjing University, attended the ceremony as a judge. He commented, “The contestants' speeches showcased remarkable skill and creativity. Choosing the winners was quite a challenge. Nevertheless, it is so inspiring to see so many talented and enthusiastic young people honing their English abilities. With the support of their schools, teachers and the wider community behind them, I am confident that these students will thrive as the next generation of leaders."
Additionally, several Hiba Academy Nantong pupils delivered impressive performances, showcasing their talent, versatility and confidence. Following the award ceremony, participants experienced Hiba Academy Nantong’s unique approach to holistic education firsthand with a campus tour and demo classes. Parents and children had the chance to see the state-of-the-art learning spaces where pupils explore academics, the arts and sports as they grow into bicultural, bilingual leaders of tomorrow.
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