What I Learned Visiting a Toastmasters Club in Bahrain
One of my long-term goals is to visit Toastmasters clubs all over the world. Recently, I had the chance to take a meaningful first step toward that dream when I visited Bahrain Toastmasters Club in the Persian Gulf nation of Bahrain. What I found was an extraordinary community of speakers — warm, welcoming, and impressively skilled. If you're a resident of Bahrain or ever plan to visit, this is a club worth experiencing firsthand.
How I Found Bahrain Toastmasters Club
I was in Bahrain on a trip with my wife and a few friends, visiting family and catching the F1 opening weekend. While I was there, I tracked down different Toastmasters clubs in the country, and Bahrain Toastmasters Club immediately stood out. The reason? They have a really strong social media presence. Their Instagram was regularly updated with meeting schedules, themes, and club news. I could see exactly what the upcoming meeting would cover, which gave me confidence that this was a well-run club worth attending.
The club meets every Tuesday evening at Fraser Suites from 7:30 to 9:30 PM — a two-hour format that's noticeably different from the roughly 75-minute meetings I'm used to at my home club in Kelowna, Canada.
A Familiar Structure with Unique Touches
Much of the meeting featured roles and segments I recognized from my own club — a grammarian, an "ah" counter, a timer, and prepared speeches followed by evaluations. But Bahrain Toastmasters Club had several distinctive elements that made their meetings feel fresh and engaging:
- A dedicated business section: About 20 minutes of the meeting was devoted to club business. At my home club, our executive committee meets separately, so seeing this integrated into the regular agenda was an interesting approach.
- A trivia contest with consequences: The Toastmaster of the Day introduced a trivia-style game where the losing team had to draw a slip of paper from a jar and perform whatever task it described. It added energy, laughter, and spontaneity to the meeting.
- A masterful opening from the president: Club president Fatima Al Mahizia delivered a fantastic address that wove in the meeting's theme, made guests feel welcome, and set the tone for everything that followed.
A Club with Deep Roots and a Culture of Growth
Bahrain Toastmasters Club was founded in 2002 by two individuals, one of whom is Salman Al Fardan — a Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) who still attends meetings regularly over two decades later. I had the chance to chat with Salman after the meeting, and what he shared speaks volumes about the club's philosophy.
Salman described the club as "the house of champions," noting that many accomplished speakers have grown through its ranks. But what struck me most was his emphasis on renewal and openness. The club continually welcomes new members of all nationalities, ages (over 18), and professional backgrounds. Many of the current executive committee members have been involved for only a year or two, which shows how quickly people can step into leadership roles.
"People grow here, and they grow other people around them," Salman told me. Having witnessed the meeting firsthand, I can confirm that's exactly what happens.
Impressive Speakers at Every Level
What truly blew me away was the quality of speakers — and not just the seasoned veterans. Members at every level demonstrated real skill and confidence.
Fatima, the club president, delivered a speech during the meeting that was nothing short of powerful. Her vocal variety drew the audience in, and her strategic use of pauses added weight and impact to every point. She has a genuinely bright future in public speaking.
Lou Jane Al-Wazan, the VP of Education, has been a member for less than a year, yet she's already making a significant impact — including building the club's social media presence, which is how I discovered them in the first place. When I spoke with her, she shared that she'd initially been hesitant about joining because public speaking made her nervous. But she described the club as a "judge-free zone" where people simply want you to do the best you can.
"It's a very good environment to thrive and to do better," Lou Jane said. "I encourage anyone around the world to join these clubs."
Salman's performance as General Evaluator that evening was a masterclass in itself. His evaluation was longer and more detailed than what I typically see — but every second was valuable. Without a single note, he delivered precise, constructive feedback to every participant. It was a vivid demonstration of what years of dedication to Toastmasters can produce: public speaking becomes less of a skill you perform and more of a natural extension of who you are.
The Moment I Had to Sing O Canada
Remember that trivia game I mentioned? Well, the opposing team got a question right, which meant I had to draw a task from the jar. The slip of paper read: "Sing your national anthem."
The Toastmaster of the Day, Aisha Fawad, was remarkably prepared — she had the music for O Canada queued up and ready to go. So there I was, singing my country's anthem from start to finish in front of a room full of people I'd just met. I am, to put it diplomatically, a very terrible singer. But I did my best to be a good sport, and the room was incredibly gracious about the whole thing. It was embarrassing, hilarious, and honestly one of the highlights of the trip.
Why You Should Visit Bahrain Toastmasters Club
I walked away from that Tuesday evening genuinely impressed. Bahrain Toastmasters Club combines strong organizational structure with a warm, inclusive culture that encourages growth at every level. Here's what makes them stand out:
- A welcoming atmosphere for guests and new members alike
- High-quality speeches and evaluations from members at all experience levels
- A rich history dating back to 2002, with founding members still actively involved
- Creative meeting elements that keep energy high and engagement strong
- An active social media presence that makes it easy to find and connect with the club
There are other Toastmasters clubs in Bahrain, and I'm sure they do wonderful work as well. This is simply the one I had the privilege of attending, and I can only speak to my experience — but I have nothing but positive things to say.
Whether you're a Bahrain resident looking to sharpen your communication skills, a traveler passing through, or simply a fellow Toastmaster curious about how clubs operate around the world, Bahrain Toastmasters Club is absolutely worth a visit. The people are welcoming, the speeches are inspiring, and if you're lucky, you might even get to hear a Canadian butcher his own national anthem. The journey to becoming a better communicator is a global one — and clubs like this remind us why that journey is so rewarding.