Young African Challenges for the World Title
Christof Appel, a 21 year old entrepreneur from South Africa will
be taking on the best the world has to offer as a finalist in the World Championships of
Public Speaking in the USA at the end of August.
The world championships take place in Washington DC at the annual
convention of Toastmasters International, an organisation with over 90 member countries.
More than 25 000 entrants go through club, area, regional and international district
qualifying contests after which 10 finalists qualify for the televised finals which
take place in front of an audience of more than 4000 people.
Christof has been a member of Toastmasters for 2 years after he
joined the Ernst & Young Club in Cape Town. He credits most of his business and personal
success to the lessons learned in this dynamic organisation. He sold his media and
marketing company a year ago and moved to Johannesburg (leaving his beloved sea and
passion for surfing behind) to take up a position with BDFM, the publishers of Business Day
Newspaper, Financial Mail Magazine, Summit TV and the new sister publication to Business
Day - The Weekender. Christof has been involved in the latter paper since its launch and
has found it to be a great and rewarding challenge.
Christof is hugely patriotic and is currently involved in various
SME and Youth initiatives. He believes that the true potential of South Africa(ns) will only
be showcased once we address the education and health issues, build the second economy by
encouraging entrepreneurship and avoid the so called 'brain drain'. He has addressed
conferences and consulted to corporate on topics such as the youth and their role in the
future, generational theory, leadership and innovation.
As the youngest finalist he hopes to fly the SA flag proudly all the way
to the top of the winners podium!
For more info and running comment on the TMI World Championships
visit www.christofappel.com
(launching on 14/08/2006) or www.toastmasters74.org.
