Since 2020, I’ve had the honor of serving as a jury member at Austria’s national multilingual speech contest, “Sag’s Multi”, organized by the country’s largest national broadcaster, ORF.
In this role, I evaluate speeches delivered in German, English, Arabic, Turkish, Spanish, and French by students from across Austria. The competition invites young people to take the stage and share their perspectives in two languages — German plus another language of their choice — on topics that matter deeply to them: multilingualism, migration, identity, and belonging.This project is close to my heart. Every year, it’s a reminder of the power of language to connect, inspire, and empower. As someone who once felt “out of place” because of speaking another language, looking different, or coming from a different background, sitting at the judge’s table feels like coming full circle.
Events like Sag’s Multi prove that multilingualism and multiculturalism are strengths, not weaknesses. And it’s those strengths that bring these talented young speakers to the stage — and keep me inspired year after year.
📍 Location: Austria
📅 Since: 2020 – ongoing
🎯 Role: Jury member, speech evaluation in six languages
