DRIVING DIALOGUE,
NOT DIVISION
Who We Are
English-Speaking Union (ESU) Serbia is one of the fifty-four international ESU branches.
ESU Serbia was founded in 1991 as the first Eastern European branch of the English Speaking Union. Thanks to the vision and dedication of Branka Panić, it has grown and endured through challenging times, continuing today as ESU Serbia.
The International Public Speaking Competition has been operating for 45 years and is the largest global competition of its kind. Over 100,000 young people enter annually.
This competition gives young people an incredible opportunity to not only develop the vital skills that enable them to speak with confidence in public, but also to meet their international peers and form friendships and understanding that will last a lifetime.
It brings together students aged 16 to 20 from more than 40 countries around the world.
This year’s national public speaking champions proved to us, and the world, the importance of cultural exchange and global friendship.
ESU International Public Speaking Competition
Serbia’s National Public Speaking Competition
English-Speaking Union Serbia National Public Speaking Competition finals were held on 29 March.
The national Public Speaking Competition in English is open to young people from Serbia, 16-20 years of age, engaged in full-time education. Each participant is expected to deliver a five-minute speech in front of an audience.
The theme for the 2026 edition of the National Public Speaking Competition is:
The light of a candle
Is transferred to another candle —
Spring twilight
Lighting One Candle, a haiku by Yosa Buson
Participants are free to interpret the theme however they choose, as long as their speech is clearly connected to the designated theme. But they should not use it as the title of their speeches.
In partnership with: HMC Scholarships.
“When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.”
― Ernest Hemingway
ESU Serbia sponsoring
Since the foundation of ESU Yugoslavia, now ESU Serbia, its members have been granted scholarships to attend ESU International Relations Conferences and cultural seminars on a variety of topics, Bell School teacher development courses, Shakespeare Globe Education seminars, and international public speaking competitions held in London, two of which were won by contestants from Serbia. In addition, another young member won the My Magna Carta essay competition in 2015.
