WFWP UK - 2025 Young Women’s Speech Contest (YWSC)

The 11th Annual Young Women’s Speech Contest (YWSC) 2025, a flagship program of the Women’s Federation for World Peace UK (WFWP UK), gathered seven extraordinary finalists to explore a question at the heart of modern life: can work-life balance truly exist for today’s woman?

Theme and purpose

Theme: “Work-Life Balance – Is it a Myth to the Modern Woman?” The contest frames the search not as a compromise but as a dynamic, evolving practice that blends ambition, care and purpose. It’s a stage where young women translate observation into action transforming personal stories into practical ideas for workplaces and communities.

A platform for brilliance

Co-moderators Sharon Kabubi and Amal Khan steered the afternoon, guiding presentations that were as polished as they were insightful. The guest speaker, Ena Softic, shared perspectives that resonated with the contestants’ messages underscoring WFWP UK’s commitment to education, advocacy and compassionate leadership.

Finalists who shone on the stage

Azita Rezaei, Divya Vaidya, Harr-Joht Kaur, Samantha Arias, Ushna Shami, Saima Ahmed and Zainab Mohammed represented a spectrum of backgrounds and ambitions. Each finalist delivered original, heartfelt speeches that combine research, lived experience and a call to action, turning the timeless question of balance into fresh actionable ideas.

Judges and platform for impact

The contest’s distinguished panel Prof. Christina Scharff (Chair), Ms. Stella Harris and Ms. Sera Mustafa evaluated the finalists on clarity, courage and relevance. The programme also included a video on WFWP activities and the winners were: 1st prize to Ushna Shami - 2nd to Azita Rezael, 3rd to Divya Vaidya.

Closing awards ceremony with the Chief Judge’s remarks sealing the event’s message: balance is attainable when education, mentorship and supportive policy intersect with personal resolve.

Why it matters

YWSC is more than a competition. It’s a flagship program that demonstrates WFWP UK’s mission in action: empowering women to build a global family rooted in sustainable peace. The event reframes balance as a dynamic practice. One that requires boundaries, resilience and innovative thinking about productivity, wellbeing and community impact. It champions a “logic of love” over the old logic of power, echoing Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon’s vision for a kinder, more just world.

Looking ahead

As the finalists’ voices linger in the room, the message is clear: work-life balance is not a fantasy but a living, evolving craft. WFWP UK invites readers to carry these insights into their workplaces, homes and communities advocating for flexible cultures, mental health supports and pathways where ambition and care coexist.

The 2025 YWSC reaffirms why the contest remains a beacon for young women: a launchpad where talent meets purpose and where the brilliance of emerging leaders lights the way to a more peaceful world.