I am Fortune Pingurai, a member of Bacon & Egg Toastmasters Club in Gauteng, South Africa. As a poet and writer, I joined Toastmasters to improve my vocabulary, hone my public speaking skills, overcome the fear of presenting my poetry in front of audiences and dig deep within me to find out what other capabilities I have.

On the day I gave my icebreaker speech, I felt like running away because of my nervousness. After the speech, I felt such relief and freedom from the feedback I got, so much so that I look forward to more speeches and roles.

What appeals to me most about Toastmasters is that we learn by doing and there is a lot of support throughout.