2019-05-07

The eighth annual Women’s and Teacher’s Debate and Rhetoric program kicked off last Thursday at the I’lam media center in Nazareth. The program trains 20 women from across the country and from different ages, intellectual currents, ideologies, political parties, in public speaking, leadership, and debate. The goal is to empower and expand the capabilities of women in various fields, particularly education.

The first phase of the program is training. The second involves the transfer of those skills and knowledge to students in schools and raising local awareness of debate and rhetoric.

Sajj Abufneh, a member of I’lam’s Young Leadership Project, began the meeting by explaining what I’lam is and what it does. I’lam Director Kholod Musalha then welcomed participants, congratulating them for participating. She thanked the German democracy-promoting NGO Hans Zeidel for sponsoring.

Actvist Najawan Berekdar led the first workshop: an introduction into the world of debate, the rules, participants’ roles in the debate and how to construct arguments.

The project, notably, works to develop and crystallize three key strategies: leadership, rhetoric and debate. It also helps to train and develop a cadre of leading women and teachers who have leadership qualifications, have mastered rhetoric and debate, and are versed in their crafts. In addition, it will help build the capacity for collective thinking and larger social responsibility around these key issues, helping spread uplifting and pro-social ideas.

In the early stages of the project, participants will will be trained on leadership and debate. These skills will then be taught to students. Competitions will be subsequently be organized in and between schools.