The Butare Debating SocietyLast Friday, I was in Butare to spend the day with our students at the National University of Rwanda (NUR). We now have 50 students at NUR and, every Friday, two members of our team go there to provide supplementary English language training. The students are organized according to their proficiency level and the assignments for one of the groups was a debate on the merits of Rwanda’s membership in the East African Community.
(Left to right) Emmanuel, Clarisse, Sylvere, Eric, Clementine in debate mode It was fantastic to watch the debate. Sylvere (the student smiling in the photo above) and the rest of the “con” team did a great job presenting their side of the debate, as did the “pro” side. Will the East African Community create jobs for Rwandans or will nationals from other countries have an advantage in the labor market? Will Rwandan culture be positively or negatively influenced by the Rwandans going abroad for job opportunities? These were the kinds of questions the students addressed during the course of the debate and I was really impressed with students’ preparation and ability to make their case. Here’s a photo from another class that was led by ORI volunteer Ariella Goodman.
The most advanced language group received a different assignment: write and deliver your acceptance speech for when you are elected president of Rwanda twenty years from now. Each aspiring statesman described their platform for national development and how they plan to act towards achieving their administration’s goals. In addition to this being great language practice, students were able to channel the inspiration they felt after reading President Obama’s speech in Ghana a few weeks ago.
Deogratias, Elie, Chrysostome, and Ernestine listen to Jean Bosco’s oration
Ernestine outlines the goals for her administration All of our language training sessions in Butare take place in the ORI houses where our students reside. So here’s what the home of the Butare Debating Society looks like!
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