Children in Mayuge Schools Reap from Debate

By Mary Nakirya

It is a common practice that in most rural areas in Africa, children cannot speak on their own. This is because of inferiority complex or due to their continued suppression. The situation is worse when these children are orphans.

Through Nezikokolima project, (HCC) hope children’s club in Mayuge has overcome this through monthly debates organized by BROSDI together with patron teachers. . Under this program, the children choose topics from thematic areas  like HIV, Agriculture and Education. They then work hand in hand with the teachers and organise debates.

This has helped them to develop decisive awareness. The children are now able to take position and decide on different issues.  They are now able to identify logical contradictions and challenges. This has helped them to improve their academics in school.

When we  first introduced the program, many of the children could not express them selves even in their own languages. Currently majority can even speak in front of an audience in English.

It has helped them to develop their personality. It is obvious that one cannot remain shy and still manage to debate. You must speak up when your opponent challenges you.

Some of the children where even able to express what has been on their mind for long. One boy while suggesting topics insisted that HIV victims should be killed. We all wondered why he was so insistent on a very tough punishment. Later we discovered that one of his parents passed away as a result of rape by an AIDS victim. He was cancelled and since then is aware that not all victims are like that. This helped him to reduce the anger which he had before on all people with HIV/ AIDS.

The children from the active schools have greatly improved their academics and results show higher grades from the last two year’s P.7 results.

This has further helped children to balance their emotions and behaviors while relating with other students.

Advertisement