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'I felt a calling to do more purposeful activities': 987FM DJ Germaine Tan on teaching kids public speaking
The 30-year-old hopes to shift the perception of public speaking among youths.
July 23, 2025, 03:46 PM
After years of being behind the mic, Mediacorp 987FM deejay Germaine Tan has found a calling in front of the classroom.
The 30-year-old is channelling her voice and influence into something personal - empowering children through public speaking.
Speaking to Mothership, Tan shared that she started contemplating her life's purpose after spending more than a decade in the entertainment industry.
That moment of reckoning led her to start Brave Voices Asia, an initiative that teaches public speaking and communication skills to children from underprivileged backgrounds.
She said:
"I felt a calling to do more purposeful activities. And in a way, I wanted to give back to the community.”
“I [realised] I had experience in public speaking and some kind of influence. I thought I [could] give access to children who may not have it, give them public speaking experience and knowledge and use my platform to connect with brands want to help."
Conducts public speaking workshops for children
The deejay primarily works with primary school students and teenagers, conducting public speaking workshops that help build their confidence.
She runs most of her programmes during school holidays.
Photo via Brave Voices Asia on Instagram
Photo via Brave Voices Asia on Instagram
"I think that children are the future. And if we invest in our youth, they will grow up to make us all really proud," she mused.
But it's not just about being on stage. Tan hopes to shift how public speaking is understood - especially among youth.
"We're trying to get the kids to understand that public speaking is not just about standing in front of a crowd and speaking into a mic," she said.
"It also applies to interpersonal relationships — whether you're speaking to one person, 100 people, or 1,000, that's still public speaking. It’s about carrying yourself in a confident way so you can get the best opportunities life has to offer."
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Top image via Germaine Tan on Instagram
