Youth empowerment is an initiative that benefits society at large by ensuring young people feel confident in their ability to effect change and contribute to a brighter future.
Whether you’re a non-profit organization, an educational institution or a business that wants to support youth in your community, holding an event to inspire kids and teens is always a worthwhile undertaking.
For many event organizers, however, it can be difficult to come up with new and inventive ways to engage a younger demographic.
If you’ve been wondering how you can motivate and encourage young people at your upcoming event, hiring youth motivational speakers is a worthwhile consideration.
These speakers have experience presenting to young adults and children in a way that captures their attention and lifts their spirits— a skill that can make your event a major success.
The Objective of Youth Motivational Speakers
As mentioned above, youth speakers know how to customize their presentations to their audience, focusing on topics, issues, and themes that resonate with school-aged kids and young adults.
Their purpose is to connect with youth in an engaging way so that their audience is more inclined to listen to, and truly absorb, information about important subjects that impact their lives.
Some topics youth motivational speakers cover include (but are not limited to):
- Bullying prevention
- Leadership development
- Goal setting and achievement
- Metal health and wellness
- The importance of education
- Diversity and inclusion
- The power of positive thinking
- Teamwork
- Peer Pressure
What Makes a Good Youth Speaker?
Above all else, motivational speakers for youth must be able to relate to and keep engaged the young people they’re speaking to. Even if the topic they are presenting is highly important, the information will be lost on the teens and kids who are listening if it is not introduced to them in an exciting and interesting way. The top youth motivational speaker understands this and customizes the presentation to make it mentally stimulating and interesting for children and teens.
Some of the methods youth speakers use to engage their young audience members include:
- Interactive games, activities or exercises
- The use of videos or music during presentations
- Encouraging feedback and participation from their audience
- The use of age-appropriate humor, pop culture references, etc.
- Sharing personal stories from their own childhoods
Why Athletes Make Great Youth Motivational Speakers
The majority of successful athletes began playing sports during their adolescent years. Thus, from a young age, they began working toward a goal and started developing the skills that would contribute to their achievements.
Professional athletes are also some of the most dedicated and focused individuals in the world. Every athlete has experienced defeat at some point in time, whether it’s losing a championship game, missing a critical shot or suffering a debilitating injury. But athletes are trained, both mentally and physically, to bounce back and continue moving forward.
All of these experiences come together to make athletes extremely inspirational, especially for young children and teens who are discovering who they are and just beginning to develop the skills that will shape their future.
By hiring an athlete youth motivational speaker, you can expose young minds to these beneficial lessons and concepts, providing them with a positive example to look up to and showing them that determination, hard work and self-confidence can turn their dreams into a reality.
Sports Speakers 360 Top Youth Speakers
At Sports Speakers 360, we have many youth motivational speakers for our clients to choose from, each bringing a unique perspective and set of skills to the table.
Some of our most popular youth speakers include:
1. Tim Tebow
Two-time NCAA football champion, former NFL quarterback and current baseball player Tim Tebow has his own non-profit organization that supports children who are living with life-threatening illnesses. Via his philanthropic work, he has demonstrated a keen interest in advocating for children and has spoken at many youth-focused events. Tim’s genial personality and upbeat presentation style make him a great fit for speaking engagements of all kinds.
2. Wayne Gretzky
Considered by many to be the greatest hockey player to ever set foot on the ice, Wayne Gretzky is a shining example of what can be accomplished with the right mindset and hard work. As the leading point-scorer in NHL history, Wayne has a wealth of knowledge to share and always seizes an opportunity to inspire kids and teens to take the shot, even when they are afraid they’ll miss. Wayne is also a proud supporter of the Children’s Make a Wish Foundation and has his own charitable organization that provides supports and services to at-risk/disadvantaged youth.
3. Bethany Hamilton
Bethany Hamilton is a professional surfer who is best known for surviving a shark attack that resulted in the loss of her left arm. Despite this harrowing experience, Bethany went on to surf again. The story of her life was turned into a feature film in 2011 entitled Soul Surfer, fromwhich many children and young adults may recognize her. Bethany’s story of resiliency is incredibly inspirational, making her a fantastic speaker for any engagement. If you’re looking for an athlete that can touch on topics like overcoming adversity and the importance of self-belief, consider booking Bethany for your next event.
4. Herschel Walker
Herschel Walker was the 1982 Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Georgia. One of the greatest running backs in college football history, Walker went on to enjoy a successful NFL career from 1986-1997. As an overweight kid with a stuttering problem, Walker was often bullied and he used that as motivation to become an elite athlete. Today, Walker speaks out against bullying.
DO YOU NEED HELP FINDING THE IDEAL YOUTH SPEAKER FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT? CONTACT US TODAY. OUR BOOKING AGENTS WOULD BE HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU.
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