By Mohamed Sankoh
Chosen Generation Sierra Leone in collaboration with Marie Gold Initiative on Wednesday 17th April, 2024 launched its “Third National Annual Debate and Championship Competition for Senior Secondary Schools girls” with the theme: “Amplifying Our Voice Young Girls in the Arena of Ideas” at Africell America Corner, Bathurst Street in Freetown.
The importance of this year’s debate focuses on providing support for pupils and women in all spheres of life as they have been marginalized in society. Twenty-four Senior Secondary Schools will be participating in this year’s debate.
The topic of this debate will be sent to schools and their participants before the debate in order for them to have pre-knowledge and research about the debate.
Speaking to the pupils, Tracy Jac-During of Chosen Generation Sierra Leone emphasized the importance of the debate which he said grooms young girls and give them the platform to speak and network with people on critical issues that affect women and girls.
She said the debate will further help to identify talent among young girls and at the same time give mentorship to girls and monitor their progress.
Tracy Jac-During said the debate competition has a package of NLe15, 000 for the winner and NLe10,000 for the runners-up with mentorship and capacity opportunities to ensure young girls are confident in raising critical issues that affect them.
She also emphasized that the ideas of young girls in the debate competition cannot be over emphasized, while she called on all to support her organization as they are constrained in terms of financial support.
Launching the debate, the President of Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL), Millicent Kargbo, encouraged young girls to participate in public debates to increase their knowledge, skills, problem solving, building confidence and overcoming fear, thereby expressing their opinion and making informed and critical decisions.
The defending champions of last year’s debate from the International School shared their experience with their colleagues and posited that the debate will help them improve, foster critical thinking skills and build self-confidence..