WeSpeak Bermuda successfully hosted its largest-ever Teen Boot Camp, bringing together students from across the island for a dynamic, full-day programme designed to build confidence, strengthen communication skills, and inspire the next generation of leaders to own the room.

Held last week at Butterfield’s Rosebank Centre, generously provided by WeSpeak’s partner sponsor Butterfield, the Boot Camp welcomed a diverse group of young participants aged 15 to 17 years old for an immersive experience centred on public speaking, self-expression, and personal development.

Participating institutions included Bermuda Centre for Creative Learning, Bermuda High School, The Berkeley Institute, Bermuda Institute, CedarBridge Academy, Chatmore, Mount Saint Agnes Academy, Somersfield, Saltus and Warwick Academy.

The day’s programme combined practical learning with interactive experiences, including peer-led panel discussions, team-based coaching sessions, and live speaking opportunities.

Students explored WeSpeak’s Teen framework of the “three Cs” — confidence, competence, and calm — equipping them with tools to communicate clearly, connect authentically, and manage nerves in high-pressure situations.

From the outset, participants were encouraged to reflect on their relationship with public speaking, with interactive polling capturing their evolving confidence levels throughout the day.

By the close of the boot camp, students were stepping forward to take the mic, delivering short speeches and demonstrating their growth in real time, as a powerful reflection of the programme’s impact.

A highlight of this year’s Boot Camp was the launch of the third annual WeSpeak Teen Video Competition, providing a platform for students to apply their skills creatively beyond the day itself.

The competition invites participants to develop and submit original video content, extending the Boot Camp’s learning into storytelling, digital communication, and personal voice.

The event also featured a student panel with Zoei Burgess and Alexandria Crippen from The Berkeley Institute, Nh’Lae DeRoza from Warwick Academy, and Zarah Siddiqi from Somersfield Academy, offering peer insights into the challenges and opportunities of finding one’s voice as a young person in Bermuda today.

Sarah Dunstan, teen chair and WeSpeak board member, said: “The Teen Boot Camp is about more than public speaking. It is about helping young people recognise the value of their voice and giving them the tools and confidence to use it.

“Watching students arrive unsure and leave willing to stand up and speak is incredibly powerful. This is how we build future leaders, by creating space for them to be heard.”

Butterfield was a platinum partner to the event, and enabled the use of the Rosebank Centre. Additional support was provided by OneComm, who awarded a new iPhone as part of a content-driven prize, alongside the other event sponsors Athene, Mosaic Insurance, and Sompo.

Prize contributions from Tuck Shop, Inclusive Identity and Sade Milan further enhanced the day’s closing celebrations, recognising student participation and achievement.

• For more information on WeSpeak’s programmes and upcoming events, visit www.wespeak.bm