EAUDC 2017 Kigali - Concept Note
INTRODUCTION
Aspire Debate Rwanda (ADR) is community based organization that was founded in 2014, by group of university youth volunteers, with zeal to promote public speaking, empower youth on leadership and communication skills to nur-ture their critical thinking. ADR looks forward to be the foremost provider of debate education and training to young people across the region in the near future.
We partner with, support and inspire individuals, schools, universities or institutions devoted to giving students access to debate and speech development. Aspire Debate Rwanda also believes that the art of speaking promotes mutual understanding and informed citizenship around the world and also leads to increased critical thinking, analysis and tolerance, enhanced cultural exchange and greater academic excellence thus contributing to social, political and economic development of the nation.
While some of our members attended Pan African University Debate Champion held in ACCRA-Ghana in 2015, we came up with an idea which was shared with all other members and agreed on preparing East Africa University Debate Championship (EAUDC) as an annual event.
Last Year in conjunction with the East African Youth Ambassadors’ Platform Rwanda chapter under the support of MINEAC and UR, the EAUDC 2016 was held in Kigali- Rwanda that brought together different universities and Higher Learning Institution from across the region to compete under the theme “better together as youth for deeper integration process” and championship was won by Mount Kenya Univer-sity- KIGALI-Rwanda.
The Youth in East African Community (EAC) constitute more than 63% of the population whereas Article 120 (c) of the EAC Treaty pro-vides for adoption of common approach for in-volvement of the youth in the integration process and this article does not only aim at strengthening the bond and synergy of East African youth but also fosters cross board exchange of ideas and energizes the spirit of Pan Africanism.
It’s on this regard that ADR will host 2nd annual debate championship which will run under the theme “ ” and bring together over 250 delegates, including 200 students from over 50 Higher Learning Institutions in the re-gional for a period of 8 days. Furthermore, the competition will also invite representation from the general public, youth councils, private sector, civil society organizations and media.