Say your say with confidence

Gymnasium’s junior debate teams and public speakers participated in the first Round Robin Junior Cup Competition and did exceptionally well.
Octavia Tsibes
Lelan Beukes

Round Robin Junior Cup was hosted by Concordia College on 8 and 9 March. Gymnasium sent two junior debate teams and one public speaker to compete in the first ever Round Robin Junior Cup.

Gymnasium’s debaters did exceptionally well. Round Robin Junior Cup was the first competition whereby Gymnasium’s junior debaters participated. The A team consisting out of Tafadzwa Bopoto grade 8,Lerato Mokwele grade 9 and Hedley Gowaseb grade 9 broke 8th to the quarter finals and faced Delta A. Team B consisting out of Nicolas Tambrescu grade 8, Emanuela Chitende grade 9, and Iris Shimhanda grade 9 broke 3rd to the quarter finals and faced Delta B. Both of Gymnasium’s teams unfortunately fell out of the quarter finals. However, in the end Iris Shimhanda and Emanuela Chitende made it to the top 10 best speakers. Iris Shimhanda was 4th best speaker and Emanuela Chitende was 8th best speaker. Furthermore, Iris Shimhanda made the Namibian team that will go Orate Africa at the end of the year. We are super excited for what is in store for our juniors.

In addition, Tune-Eve Shipulwa dominated in the public speaking section. Tune-Eve is in grade 9 and she made it to the finals and became the first ever Round Robin Public Speaking Champion. “Since it was my first time doing public speaking, I was quite nervous. I came over those nerves though and actually had a great time. I got to experience about the act of public speaking and how to be more confident. It was interesting to see and hear how other speakers interpreted the topics. It is an honor to be awarded as the first Round Robin Public Speaking Champion” says Tune-Eve. We are supper proud of Tune-Eve and her accomplishment.

Moreover, Round Robin Junior Cup was a success. The first ever Round Robin Junior Cup had a turnout of 75 learners from the Khomas Region. A debate competition such as Round Robin Junior Cup provides opportunities for debaters, not only to grow and develop, but also to make new friends from various schools. “The initiative was aimed to bridge the gap between the seasoned high school debaters and the newbies that are just entering the debate arena. It is my conviction that investing in debating on the grassroots level allows us to empower and grow future speakers that are destined to be the leaders of tomorrow. This was also an outlet aimed at bestowing critical thinking, developing a reading culture among the youth and helps boost their confidence in not just the debating arena, but in schoolwork as well. Debating is a platform that can help learners in the English subject as they adopt ways of engaging in discursive and argumentative essays. Moreover it helps them with their oral presentation and to develop a level of confidence, fluency and articulation,” says Clinton Muinj, head coach of Namibia's high school debate.

In conclusion, Round Robin Junior Cup was an amazing opportunity for all junior debaters and public speakers in Khomas Region to not only compete against each other but also to develop their experience as debaters and public speakers. In the end Delta A became the first debate team to win Round Robin Junior Cup.