By Olimatou Coker
Gam Africa Institute for Leadership, (GAIL) established to empower young people through public speaking and critical thinking using debate as a tool for change, last Saturday staged the second phase of its 2019 debate championship.
The debate was for 12 schools in the Greater Banjul Area namely; Gambia Methodist SSS, Nusrat SSS, Gambia SSS, Saint Augustine’s SSS and others.
Speaking at Tango hall where the event was organised, Modou Jallow, GAIL project manager, said the event brought together schools to talk about social issues and how to bring about much needed social change in the country.
“We have the second platform where we go for a boot camp for three nights and expose them [the students] to things outside their classroom… we thought them public speaking and critical thinking,” he said.
“Today’s event marks the quarter-final round. We are currently left with 12 schools. After today’s quarter final we will eliminate another 4 schools,” he said.
He said what GAIL was attempting to do was to break the culture of silence by engaging students in debate competitions.
Adelaide Sosseh, vice chairperson of TRRC, said education is a human right and like other human rights it must be respected, protected and fulfilled.
“Education is fundamental to development and growth as it is in the human mind that all development achievements are crystallised from,” she said.
“Even though the government of The Gambia is committed to providing accessible, equitable and inclusive quality education for all by 2030, this remains a dream for many Gambians.”
Other speakers were Fabakary Kalleh and Arthur Bondoquah, a participant from St. Angustine’s SSS.
Bondoquah said of the impact GAIL made on him: “Athough I was very good at public speaking, today I can say I am actually great at it because of GAIL.”
GAIL is a charitable organisation established in 2017 with the aim to provide and equip African youths with the necessary skills to grow and become future leaders.
