Azzy: Can you persuade people? First, you have to convince them!

Convincing??

Persuasion is easy if the person that we talk to is open to new suggestions and does not have specific point of view on certain things or values. But what happen if the person we talk to has a specific and certain mindset that most likely they would debunk and reject all the points that you present to them? Will you manage to persuade them? What should we do? Speech to convince is an alternative way to get them understand and listen to your point of view. No matter what, you have to use the right words and example to move them, to be able to see the point in your perspective.

For example, when I was elected as the representative of Youth Commonwealth Conference Education Minister last year, I had to persuade all the representative from each country to have the same point of view in fighting for our rights in education. Before we can convince the ministry, first I have to persuade the fellow youth to be in the same boat as me. To carry the same values and message but at different perspectives. In order to get them to feel comfortable and in unity, I have to show and prove to them that we all have the same common ground, the same wants and needs. Which is better education, better environment, better future! Once they feel that they belong in the same circle, the task seems to be easier to accomplish. All of them provide some ideas, open up to clarify conflicts and accept the differences between cultures.

Before the speech was given, all candidates were sent to live together with different people to create the sense of acceptance in the family, the program that we call "Home Stay". As they were the firsthand experience, they started to believe that concept we try to convey will succeed thus work as the evidence.

Later on, all of us work upon the points that we need to discuss with our minister during the lunch time in providing fund for a better education as well as our power and rights in the making of amendment.

Despite the conflicts that we had, we managed to prove to the government that we, youth should have the power to work on our education and to be able to stand on our feet. From there, we can learn from our mistakes but still have the guidance from them.Now, the draft has been set and the final say shall be held in Lagos University, Nigeria.

Special thanks to Dr. Fatihah for making the conference such a success between the representatives of youth as well as panel of ministers from all over the country.