KABUL | Eleven Junior Seeds competed alongside 30 other students from nine schools in the 2015 High School Debate Tournament on June 12th at the Jahan e Noor Institute of Higher Education in Kabul. The team from Ghulam Haidar Khan High School emerged as the 2015 tournament champions and Afghan Seed Faisal was named the debate’s best speaker.
“Seeds of Peace provided me a valuable opportunity, giving me the chance to compete in the debate championship against very intelligent competitors,” said Faisal.
“The celebration and people coming up to me and congratulating me was very exciting. The offers of future opportunities are equally thrilling. I know the debate championship has given my life a fresh transformation (and) it has taken me a step closer to my ambitions. Thank you, Seeds of Peace.”
The one-day debate tournament was sponsored by Seeds of Peace, the Jahan e Noor Institute, New Generation Organization and the Afghanistan Youth Education and Social Organization.
The debaters were assessed on their ability to communicate their ideas in a structured and organized manner, as well as thinking about a topic from a different perspective or angle. Secondly, the debaters had to demonstrate critical reasoning skills and respectful listening skills, rather than immediately respond via a counterpoint. At the end of the tournament, Afghan Seed Faisal was named the debate’s best speaker.
As the championship trophy was awarded, representatives of the Jahan e Noor Institute announced that they would provide scholarships to the winning team–an announcement that left the students excited and encouraged.