Veritas Debate League is Egypt’s First High School Debate Tournament

Veritas Debate League is Egypt’s First High School Debate Tournament

Egypt’s first aggressive high-school debate event, organized by the Veritas Debate League, befell on 1 February at Hayah International Academy in Cairo, marking a significant milestone for the controversy neighborhood within the nation. 

The event introduced collectively 28 groups from eight worldwide faculties, with round 75 college students taking part in two rounds of structured debate utilizing the World Schools Debate format, the place groups take turns arguing for and towards a subject, with a mixture of ready and impromptu motions.

A Growing Debate Culture

The event goals to introduce a aggressive debate tradition to Egypt, providing college students a platform to sharpen their public talking, important pondering, and argumentation abilities. 

The initiative is a part of a broader effort to determine common debate tournaments in Egypt and probably kind a nationwide staff to compete in worldwide championships.

“Debate has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life, and I wanted to provide that same opportunity to students in Egypt,” stated Bryan Cory, founding father of Veritas Debate League, in an interview with Egyptian Streets. 

 “We’ve trained students and judges leading up to this event, and the response has been overwhelming. The goal is to make debate a sustainable and thriving community here,” he added. 

At their first occasion, college students from Hayah, AIS West, AIS Main, Futures, Forsan American School, Kayan International College, the International School of Elite Education, and GEMS British International School Madinaty debated the movement “full-time students should take part in compulsory charity work,” with every staff arguing each for and towards the subject in separate rounds. 

The staff that gained each rounds with the very best speaker factors, Angie Saifeldin and Gemma Saifeldin from AIS Main, acquired a trophy.

A Transformative Experience for Students

For many contributors, the event was an eye-opening expertise that pushed them to assume on their toes and refine their arguments in actual time.

“I think I learned how to adapt quickly,” stated Sophia Sabry, 16, a Grade 11 pupil from Hayah International Academy. “I came into debate with all my organizing down and all my statistics, and then the opposition had totally different points. I learned how to map out the situation, the benefits, the costs, and how to make a calculated argument out of that.”

Others highlighted how the competitors helped them construct confidence and enhance public talking abilities. “If I had issues with public speaking before, debate has helped me overcome them,” stated Habiba Amin, 16, from Hayah International Academy. “It’s exciting to be part of something that’s never happened in Egypt before.”

Participants additionally emphasised the significance of adaptability and significant pondering. “Critical thinking is such an important skill because you can use it anywhere, whether you’re applying to be an engineer or a doctor or anything really,” Sophia added. “Adaptability helps you think on your feet, so if you’re in any situation, even if it’s an emergency, you learn how to map out your situation and make a calculated argument.”

Another participant, Jana Al Badrashini, 14, a Grade 9 pupil from AIS Main, shared, “I’ve learned many things in the debate team that  I’m going to be using in the future, such as public speaking and how to persuade someone to my opinion. I would definitely recommend other students to participate in the same experience.”

Yassin Eweis, 17, a Grade 12 pupil from Hayah International Academy, expressed his enthusiasm for the potential growth of  debate in Egypt: “I’d love to see this grow into something even bigger in the coming years.”

The Future of Debate in Egypt

The occasion was broadly thought to be successful, with college students demonstrating sturdy engagement, thorough preparation, and enthusiasm all through. 

Positive suggestions from contributors and organizers has paved the way in which for future tournaments, with Cory planning to carry a number of extra all year long.

Looking forward, Veritas Debate League hopes to broaden its attain, bringing structured debate competitions to extra faculties, and finally forming a nationwide debate staff.

“In five years, I envision monthly tournaments with participation from at least 15 different schools and even middle school divisions,” Cory defined. “I’d also love to see Egypt competing internationally in debate championships.”

With rising curiosity from college students and educators alike, the event marks the start of what may change into a thriving debate tradition in Egypt, providing college students a singular platform to develop important life abilities and interact in significant discussions.