In the workshops, Project Read learner presented three speeches over four sessions. After a speech was given, others in the group would evaluate it. The workshops helped learners develop more confidence for speaking in front of a group of people, and also showed how to evaluate someone's speech in a caring and supportive way.

Norman and Emma Pefley were contacted by Leon Veal, Project Read's outreach worker, who thought public speaking classes would benefit those in the program. After a meeting with Leon and Ana Linder, Norman told us that he began thinking about who would be the appropriate facilitator for these classes. "When I couldn't find anyone, I asked Emma, `What do you think of doing it?' And she said, `Yeah, let's do it!'"

Emma has been in Toastmasters for a year. She described how she felt when the idea about working with Project Read learners was suggested to her: "I got very excited when this was proposed to me by Norman. I've been wanting to do volunteer work that pertains to education, to helping others, how to really develop themselves." When Project Read agreed to provide the space and invite learners, Emma saw this as just the kind of opportunity she was looking for.

Norman has been involved with Toastmasters for five years, both in United States and the Philippines. He and Emma usually presented the classes in the evenings after a full day's work schedule and were frequently fatigued when they arrived. Even so, Norman said that working with Project Read learners was an energizing experience. "What really has impressed me—actually it's impressed both of us—is the desire to learn. We get such enthusiasm from the students in terms of wanting to learn what we're telling them. We're giving hints on public speaking, but they're really taking it in and then applying it—that's very impressive."