UAE project: First debate led by people of determination

The UAE government announced a five-year strategy for people of determination to spotlight the country’s longstanding commitment to inclusion in diverse areas, including employment, health, housing as well as opportunities for learning and development. Project Determination — the world’s first debate led by People of Determination — is an extension of that vision.

It harbours the very essence of the government-led initiative — to showcase the many special talents and capabilities of people of determination when given a suitable and empowering platform. This exemplary endeavour has been the labour of love for high-school student Shrish Janarthanan. The 17-year-old Dubai College student has been a debate champion in several national and international competitions, including Emirates Debate Championship and Indian Rotary Club Debates. What started as a mere after-school hobby has now led him to dedicate substantial time and efforts, alongside his school commitments, to establish his very own debate programme, DebatePro.

In a short span of time, the initiative has managed to work with schools across the globe, facilitating debate groups for 860 students in 32 schools in over six countries. “When I was first looking to teach peers who came to me for help, I found there was a lack of resources targeted for the style of debating that I wanted to teach and also, the way I wanted to teach,” says Shrish.

Inclusion and accessibility being some of his key priorities, Shrish says his aim is “to ensure that every student has an accessible platform to discuss, compete and think creatively”. The programme is now being used in notable schools across the UAE and other countries and has led the high-school student to spread this initiative amongst the special needs community in the region. Over the past few months, Shrish has been taking time out to teach the art of debating to a group of six people of determination.

Despite facing initial challenges, Shrish was left in awe of their confidence, enthusiasm and the zest to learn. “What makes this process so special is that all of us had different strengths, which came together through this platform. I think the real idea behind this project is to show the rest of the world that regardless of the challenges you may face, nothing is impossible. This is what every single one of them have done, week after week, logging on to our Zoom sessions.”

Project Determination will culminate into a virtually-streamed live debate session led by Asma Baker, Sharan Anil, Mariam Ismail, James Casaki, Aarti Shah and Johann Mendes. “It’s going to run as a full-on debate, seen at international debate competitions. The aim for the final event is to raise awareness on people of determination and showcase their endless capabilities to the world,” he adds.

Ask what debating means to them individually, the cohort is overwhelmed with the many new skills they have acquired through this initiative. Johann Mendes, 24, who is a Guinness World Record holder for naming capital cities of 52 countries in a minute, expresses his gratitude for this unique opportunity. “I am proud to be part of the DebatePro community. It has taught me how to put my thoughts together when I have a conversation with others. I had always been eager to join public speaking groups. My mother always told me to join something like a Ted Talk. So, Project Determination is that opportunity for me.”

Sharan, who is an action artist, motivational speaker and a poet, adds, “It was a very positive experience for me. Even though we are placed in two separate teams, it’s very important to believe in our team’s vision. It is all about teamwork.” James, 33, is a motivational speaker and musical theatre enthusiast. He says debating and public speaking have helped him become who he is today. “It allows me to use my imagination. I’ve learned so much about myself that I didn’t know before, through this process.” Earlier, Mariam, a 24-year-old artist, would get very nervous while talking in front of large groups. “I couldn’t stand the fact that so many people were looking at me,” she says, adding, “This journey has helped me get over some of my fears.”

The team also understands the importance of listening while debating. “It is not just about what you or your team wants to say but there is also another side to it. There’s another team that has an opposing view. Debating is about interacting with that other team,” highlights Shrish.

Asma Baker, a 32-year-old Emirati artist, who also loves to write, says that the debating platform allows her to express herself in a new way. “Debating can help with speaking, but there is another side to it. You can also use real life experiences to explain your perspective to the opposition. There will always be people who agree and disagree with you, debating helps navigate that cycle and understand people better. It helps people see the differences between two things and together, reach a point of agreement.”

At a time when not many agree to disagree happily, fostering empathetic listening skills is almost a necessity. Shrish says debate clubs emphasise on the need for well-rounded arguments and importance of being open to different views. “Only by listening and keeping an open mind, can we come up with an objective view, of either building an argument up or bringing it down,” adds the high-school student.

Project Determination hopes to encourage inclusion and diversity of opinions, by facilitating equal access to such debating platforms, and will be joined by several people, gathering to applaud the determined efforts of this cohort.

somya@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai