SAIM Toastmasters Club marked its 6th anniversary and 222nd meeting on November 28, 2025, at SAIM College in Old Baneshwor, Kathmandu, drawing over 60 participants from all over Kathmandu, mostly college students, public speaking enthusiasts, and fellow toastmaster from 15 different clubs, eager to boost public speaking, communication, and networking skills. Chartered on September 26, 2019, the club has thrived despite challenges like member graduations, relocations, pandemics, and maintaining momentum through busy academic schedules, proving consistency builds lasting impact.
The event kicked off with a warm welcome speech by SAIM College Principal, Professor Ashok Raj Pandey, an MBA graduate from Harvard, who shared the inspiring journey of the commencement of Toastmasters at the college. This was followed by insights from Sabina Tuladhar, Academic Head and Associate Professor, on transformation of students through the SAIM Toastmasters Club in public speaking and communication skills over the years.
"Keeping everyone connected and active for six straight years isn't easy," shared Past President Aniket Rauniyar. "People graduate, move away, get busy with life. But we've kept going, and that's something we're really proud of."
Keynote insights and chief guest spotlight
Division A Director Anisha Karn from District 41, Toastmasters International, served as Chief Guest, delivering a Keynote on practice, confidence, and seizing speaking opportunities in class or club settings. She highlighted Toastmasters' century-long legacy of "making leaders" by helping members strengthen their communication and leadership skills, urging attendees to learn from every experience amid warm applause and constructive feedback. "To achieve and conquer different types of mountains in our lives we all have our own mountains to conquer and they all are different," she added, connecting the local club to a global network and inspiring students to view it as a cornerstone for growth.
Award distribution and Personal Stories
On this occasion, the club also held an award distribution ceremony. Ravindra Yadav was honored with the Outstanding Member Award for Area C3, Division C, District 41, Toastmasters International. The badge was jointly handed over by Area C3 Director Ankush Adhikari and Division C Director Saroj Tamrakar. This recognition is given to only one member in each cycle from the entire area, who keep their best effort in conducting meetings, keeping contribution for overall growth and development of members and clubs in the area, making it a distinguished achievement. Ravindra shared his personal journey growing up in a government school in Madhesh, studying completely in Nepali medium, with only one subject in English, facing financial constraints and struggling with English due to limited resources and teaching quality in rural schools. It made him less confident in life, but Toastmasters gave him a platform to explore, learn and improve English language, communication, and more. He spoke about how these challenges once affected his confidence, especially in communication, and how consistent participation in Toastmasters helped him learn, improve, and eventually earn this award.
The celebration featured a special video journey highlighting the various programs organized over the years to enhance students' communication skills including Ravindra Yadav's rapid rise from regular member to Vice President of Public Relations (managing online presence) and Area PR Manager for Area C3, showing how Toastmasters opens doors to leadership, networking, and technical skills beyond speaking. These programs include the successful Public Speech Contest, which inspired many, showcasing star speakers like Niten and Shruti who won for their outstanding performances. The club's events go beyond speeches and contests; they involve diverse activities such as hiking trips, Taekwondo events, and more, reflecting a holistic journey focused on building confidence, leadership, and community among students. Through these multiple engaging programs, the club continues being a vital platform empowering student to excel in communication and leadership for their academic and professional growth.
Most attendees were college students who came hoping to overcome their fear of speaking in public and to meet new people. Many said the club had already helped them feel more confident. For example, past member Silvya Shrestha shared that regular meetings helped her stop shaking during her first speech, called the "icebreaker," and now she eagerly volunteers to speak at every meeting.
The celebration ended on a happy note with awards for the best speakers and lots of cheers. After the event, members stayed around to talk and congratulate each other, building strong friendships. The smiles and applause showed that the event was more than just a celebration of six years; it reminded everyone to keep learning and growing together. As Toastmasters often says, just like cricketers practice in nets, club meetings give members a safe place to practice important skills like communication and leadership. With that spirit, the SAIM Toastmasters community looks forward to many more meetings, speeches, and growing confident speakers in the years ahead.
Networking and future connections
Post-event networking sessions allowed participants to forge lasting bonds, proving Toastmasters serves as more than a speaking club; it's a hub for personal and professional networking. College students found it an ideal space to overcome shyness, practice impromptu speaking, and connect with peers. The celebration mirrored successful Toastmasters stories in Nepal, bridging gaps in public speaking and leadership.
For SAIM Toastmasters, this anniversary wasn't just about looking back at six years of meetings. It was about all the students who walked in nervously and walked out a little braver. It was about the friendships formed, the skills learned, and the community built.
With 222 meetings under their belt and counting, SAIM Toastmasters is proving that consistency, community, and a little courage can go a long way.
SAIM Toastmasters Club was established on 26 Sept 2019 with the goal of helping students develop strong communication and leadership skills. The club meets every Wednesday at 6 PM at SAIM College, Old Baneshwor