By F ssibu mission foundation | Project leader
Empowering School Debates (with Girls Leading)
1. All-Girls Debate Teams & Leagues
· Form intra-school and inter-school debate teams where girls are the primary speakers (not just token members).
· Create female-led debate clubs with rotating leadership roles (president, researcher, coach).
· Establish a “junior mentor” system: older girls train younger ones.
2. Topic Selection that Reflects Girls’ Realities
· Debate motions tied to resilience and retention: “This house believes that early marriage is more harmful than dropping out due to poverty,” or “This house would prioritize girls’ education over household chores during economic hardship.”
· Include local issues (e.g., access to sanitary products, safety traveling to school) to validate their lived experiences.
3. Skills-Building Before Competition
· Weekly workshops on: argument structuring, rebuttal techniques, evidence-based research, and emotional regulation during speaking.
· Peer feedback sessions focused on growth, not winning—reduce performance anxiety.
4. Safe, Supportive Debate Environment
· Female moderators and judges (teachers, community leaders, older alumnae).
· Clear code of conduct against interruption, mockery, or personal attacks.
· Private spaces for practice if school culture is mixed-gender and conservative.
5. Link Debates to Tangible Academic & Social Support
· Debate participation counts toward extracurricular credit or scholarship eligibility.
· Top speakers get mentorship from female professionals (lawyers, journalists, policymakers).
· Connect debaters to a “keep girls in school” fund (small stipends, sanitary supplies, transport help).
6. Community Engagement Rounds
· Hold public debates inviting parents, religious leaders, and local officials.
· Showcase how girls’ argumentation skills translate to problem-solving at home (e.g., negotiating study time, reporting harassment).
· Use post-debate discussions to shift parental attitudes about girls’ leadership.
7. Monitoring Resilience Outcomes
· Pre- and post-debate surveys measuring: self-efficacy, intention to stay in school, coping strategies for peer/family pressure.
· Track attendance, grade progression, and dropout rates among participants vs. non-participants.
· Collect qualitative stories: “Debate taught me to speak up when my
uncle said school is a waste for girls.”
By F ssibu mission foundation | Project leader
By F ssibu mission foundation | Project leader
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