Following the success of its inaugural 2019 event, CamDEBATE, the Cambodia International Debate & Public Speaking Championship Series, is inviting entries from high schoolers, university students and young professionals to take part in the 2020 competition.
An initiative of IDP Education, CamDEBATE provides a platform for young people to enhance their public speaking and debate skills in English and aims to foster understanding, friendship and knowledge among youth in Cambodia.
“It’s about trying to build… a culture of trying to put ourselves in somebody else’s shoes”
The competition is open to Cambodians or youth of other nationalities residing in Cambodia.
CamDEBATE 2019 received more than 700 applications representing six different nationalities, including Cambodian, Chinese, Thai, Filipino, Malaysian and French from over 100 schools and universities.
The competition took place over four rounds, eventually whittled down to the top 20 finalists in the last round.
Speaking with The PIE News, country director for IDP Education (Cambodia) Sreng Mao said the competition is beyond winning an award or championship.
“It’s about trying to build a cultural dialogue, a culture of sharing, a culture of trying to put ourselves in somebody else’s shoe and trying to understand a situation,” he said.
“Also, to make people understand that debating is leading ourselves to better knowledge, and have a more rounded view on situations or things.”
CamDEBATE 2020 will consist of two categories, public speaking and debate, and is open to three levels: high schoolers aged 15 years old or above at the time of application, university or post-secondary students aged 25 or below and young professionals aged 30 or below.
All contestants taking part will receive up-skilling sessions in public speaking and debate skills by the Australian Centre for Education and other CamDEBATE training partners to develop contestants’ public speaking and debate skills and to improve their confidence when speaking in public.
12 eventual winners will be awarded a two-week study tour to the UK courtesy of sponsorship partner Cambridge Education Group, trophies, medals, scholarships and other prizes.
“There will be socialising with other students in the UK, seeing summer tourist attractions, areas in London, in Cambridge and possibly in Brighton also.
“Everybody wants to go to London, and experience what London is like,” added Mao.
The closing date for entry to CamDEBATE 2020 is December 30, and further information is available here.