The National Young Entrepreneur's Debate Championships that started in August will come to an end this weekend with schools that emerged winners at provincial level battling it out for the top spots.
The National Young Entrepreneur’s Debate Championships that started in August will come to an end this weekend with schools that emerged winners at provincial level battling it out for the top spots.
According to the organizer, Dieudonne Ishimwe, out of the original 49 schools, only 16 schools will compete in the national level pre-selection process that will take place at Integrated Polytechnic Regional Center (IPRC) on Saturday. Green Hills Academy, the defending champions, are part of the last 16 but didn’t take part in the provincial pre-selection process since they are the defending champions.
Northern Province will be represented by Ecole de Science de Musanze and Groupe Scolaire du Bon Conseil. Southern Province has Groupe Scolaire Official de Butare, Groupe Scolaire Mater Dei de Nyanza and Groupe Scolaire Notre Dame de Lourde. Agahozo Shalom, Gashora Girls Academy and Fawe Girls Academy Kayonza will represent the Eastern Province whereas the Western Province has Ecole Secondaire Saint Marie and Groupe Scolaire Notre Dame d’Afrique Nyundo.
Kigali city has biggest number of representatives; 6 schools in total. These include, King David Academy, Lycee de Kigali, Kagarama Secondary School, Apred Ndera Secondary School, Fawe Girls Academy and the defending champions Green Hills Academy.
With the debate topic this year being "Savings as a key to entrepreneurship,” teams will attend a one-day training on Friday where they will be coached by debate experts and listen to inspirational stories from young entrepreneurs.
The pre-selection phase will be held on Saturday at IPRC Kigali and the top two teams will face off at the grand finale on Sunday at Kigali Serena Hotel.
The headmistress of Groupe Scolaire Notre Dame d’Afrique Nyundo, Clemetine Gasingizwa, says her school is well prepared and ready to win the title.
"My students are ready and confident to take the trophy because they have enough experience in debating competitions. Last year, the same team won the national schools debate competition on regional integration. So, I have no doubt that the same team will bring the trophy home,” she said.
The annual debate competition is organised to help the youths find solutions to problems that affect them, according to Ishimwe.
The finale will see eventual winners walk away with prizes that include laptops, medals and a trophy among others.