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‘Citizens’ wins the International schools debate competition. |04 July 2018

After its launch on Monday, the international schools debate competition for primary schools kicked off yesterday where students (aged 7-11) and their teachers from all over the world shared their team work plan for conserving the world’s oceans, seas and marine resources by 2030 .

Assigned to one of four thematic groups, students discussed and debated on the theme ‘We can save the world’s oceans, seas and marine by 2030’.

The team ‘Citizens’, comprising Seala Aetnian, Hala Sharajeedeen, Kyle Khoury (Lebanon), Reuben Furneau, Erin Lesperance (Seychelles) and Kiara Dhamecha (United Arab Emirates) impressed the judges for first position over adversary teams ‘Government’, ‘Scientists’ and ‘Businesses’.

They were presented with their medals by the chief executive of the National Botanical Gardens Foundation, Raymond Brioche.

The best individual debater was Chaeli-Jade Pienaar of UAE.

“Our group tried very hard to come up with ideas on how we can all work together to protect our oceans and it was very interesting,” said ‘Citizens’ team member Erin Lesperance.

During the ceremony, participants for the international schools essay competition on ‘My plan to protect and manage our oceans, seas and marine resources’, held last year, also received their prizes and the first position went to Aleksanda Paskalev from Bulgaria. His essay was on alternatives to destructive practices as opposed to sustainable practices. He called for a total ban on the use of explosives for fishing thus promoting aqua culture and also a ban on the use of chemicals by farmers which mostly end up in the oceans.

“I am very happy to have won the award. It’s a great achievement for me,” Paskalev said.\

Second in the essay competition was 10-year-old Luke Alcindor from Anse Etoile primary who also said he was very happy to have come out second, a position he wasn’t expecting.

“In my essay, I have made proposal to the President to introduce a law to ban companies from importing products with CFCs and I have also suggested to the Ministry of Environment to have security officers on beaches to prevent people from littering and also to put in place bins including at river sites to stop water pollution,” said Alcindor.

Third place in the essay completion went to Chaeli-Jade Pienaar from the UAE.

They were presented with their prizes by Ambassador Marie Pierre Lloyd, a member of the organising committee and judge of the debate competition.

This international activity for both primary and secondary schools, focusing  on the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 which is about ‘Oceans’, is being held at the Savoy hotel, Beau Vallon and will continue up to Friday. It is the first time that Seychelles is hosting the event.

The educational event is being organised by the Trust for Sustainable Living (TSL) – a global education charity, based at the Living Rainforest Centre in the UK in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, the James Michel Foundation, the National Botanical Gardens Foundation (NBGF), Seychelles Islands Foundation among other partners.

Today, the debate will be for secondary school pupils under the theme ‘This house believes that the targets of UN SDG14 – Oceans -- are achievable’.

Some 120 international delegates comprising pupils, teachers along with some parents from all over the world are taking part in the International Schools Debates competition.

During the debate yesterday, four students were chosen as primary school ambassador speakers at the children’s Ocean Conference to be held tomorrow.

A book entitled ‘Voices of the future’, a wonderful anthology of eight stories addressing children’s rights and sustainable development written by child authors from around the world was also launched.  

 

 

 

 

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