A Little Ilford student has won third place in the regional final of the Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge.

Newham Recorder: Monalisa Saha with Jack PetcheyMonalisa Saha with Jack Petchey (Image: Archant)

Monalisa Saha, 15, impressed the judges with her Generation Us speech, and fought off stiff competition from 14 other finalists to compete in the grand final, held at Piccadilly Theatre.

She received £150 in recognition of her achievement and will be asked to be one of the MCs at next year’s grand final.

Journalist Brenda Emmanus, who was one of the judges on the night, described the evening as “awe-inspiring”.

Jack Petchey added: “I am so proud of these young people. Their confidence and ability to express themselves shows that our mission ‘if you think you can – you can’ is being fulfilled”.

550 year 10 students from Newham took part in the competition.

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