Green Hills Academy are national debate champs

Green Hills Academy are the winners of the National Young Entrepreneurs’ Debate championships 2013 held at the Kigali Serena Hotel last Sunday. Green Hills clinched the top spot nationwide after emerging the best in Kigali City province.At the semifinal stage, Green Hills Academy had to overcome defending champions Sonrise High School from Musanze District, before seeing off Lycee Notre Dame de Citeaux in an animated debate.A total of 29 secondary schools and four universities turned up for the competitions where the best performers were rewarded with laptops, scholastics, T-shirts, among others.The secondary schools were the best debaters from the provinces. The City of Kigali was represented by Green Hills Academy, Lycee Notre Dame de Citeux, Kagarama Secondary School and APE Rugunga, while Eastern Province was represented by Nyagatare Secondary School, Groupe Scolaire Saint Aloys, Institut Don Bosco, Kiziguro Secondary School and Gahini Secondary School.The Northern Province had Ecole Secondaire Islamique de Ruhengeri, Ecole Secondaire Kiyanza, TTC Kirambo, Groupe Scolaire APAPEB, Groupe Scolaire Rulindo and Sonrise High School carrying their flag.Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare, College Christ Roi and Groupe Scolaire de Kigeme represented the Southern Province, while the Western Province was represented by College Saint Marie, Groupe Scolaire Rambura, College de Gisenyi, Groupe Scolaire Bumba and Ecole Secondaire Gafunzo.The debate competition aims at widening the scope of understanding about entrepreneurship among secondary and university students in line with encouraging and enabling them to become job creators as opposed to job seekers. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and ICT, Rose Mary Mbabazi, appreciated Rwanda Inspiration Back Up for the idea of organising such competitions because it helps youth to improve on their capacity.“We congratulate those schools that have managed to perform better than others in this competition, but also encourage and call on those that did not manage to make to the next level to work so hard next time so that they take over,” Mbabazi said.The university category was won by the Higher Institute of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (ISAE- Busogo) in a competition that included the National University of Rwanda, the School of Finance and banking as well Mt Kenyan University. The debates were organised by Rwanda Inspiration Back Up Ltd and sponsored by partners; National Youth Council, Imbuto Foundation, Ministry of Youth and ICT and Workforce Development Authority.Others were Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda Governance Board and the Ministry of Education ,with financial support from Coca-Cola and Bank of Kigali.