A Norbury student won first place in the Croydon heat of a public speaking competition last week.
Mayward Martindale, 15, from Norbury Manor Business and Enterprise College for Girls, spoke about how war has destroyed her home country Sierra Leone.
She won an iPod touch and a chance to go through to the grand final of the Speak Out Challenge on July 9.
She said: “I’m shocked and thrilled. I have worked so hard for this.”
Mayward beat 600 contests to win the award.
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