The 22nd World Schools Debating Championship concluded this weekend in Doha, Qatar, with Canada emerging the winner after a closely-fought contest.

 

The Canadian team was crowned world champion after winning over the English team in the final round; England came second, with Singapore finishing third and Wales fourth.

 

On the occasion of the conclusion of the Championship organized by the QatarDebate Center, member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, a marvelous ceremony was held Thursday night February 18, 2010 at La Cigale Hotel Doha, under the auspices of H.E. Dr. Abdullah Bin Ali Al Thani, Vice President of Qatar Foundation for Education, and was attended by delegations of the 57 countries participating in the Championship.

 

His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Al-Thani welcomed the participants in the 2010 WSDC and commended the organizers who have worked hard to ensure the success of this event.

 

His Excellency also confirmed that Qatar Foundation believes that debates contribute to the free expression of ideas, and this is essential for the development of society. He congratulated all the debate teams from all over the world for their outstanding efforts in this Championship in Qatar.

 

It is worth noting that the Championship has received considerable support from the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development. This support has contributed in the success of the Championship, and was praised by all participants in the Championship. Mrs. Claire Ryan, Chairperson of the WSDC Executive Committee, asserted that the Doha round of the WSDC is a unique milestone in the history of the Championship and has contributed in placing the WSDC on the world map.

 

In her address during the closing ceremony, Dr. Hayat Maarafi, Executive Director of the QatarDebate Center, said that this international event is a clear indication of the extent of interest that Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, Chairman of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, has for such educational activities that aim at establishing Qatar’s modern renaissance on the basis of knowledge, science, cultural exchange and openness to the world; and at fulfilling the motto "Debaters Today, Leaders Tomorrow."

 

She also added that this Championship has embodied world solidarity, brotherhood and peace by bringing together representatives from 57 countries from all continents of the world and has proven that such meetings between young people from different cultures and races are capable of consolidating the concepts of human brotherhood.

 

She stressed that one of the lessons learned from this Championship is that the debates truly prepare leaders of tomorrow for they teach them about the different cultures and patterns of thinking and prepare them to deal with people from various walks of life.

 

The second lesson we learned from organizing this Championship, Maarafi said, is that even if we have different views, orientations, and cultures, we are first and foremost partners in humanity and partners on this earth we live in. The third lesson, according to her, is that debate is an inherent art of our Arab culture and we urgently need to inculcate this art in our educational institutions because we now need more than ever to expand the margin of freedom and expression in our societies.

 

Dr. Hayat Maarafi also confirmed that debates help in preparing a productive citizen who bears responsibility on the social, cultural and political levels and works on establishing a positive change in his community and on pushing development forward on all levels.

 

Qatar Debate was established based on the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Misned, Chairwoman of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, that promotes human development as the most important of resources via two parallel lines: sowing science and knowledge and unlocking creative talents by promoting the ability to express and interact with the opinion of the other as opposed to clashing with him.

 

QatarDebate was established in September 2007 with the aim of developing, supporting and raising the standard of open discussion and debate among students in Qatar and across the Middle East, shaping the Global Citizens of today and the intellectual leaders of tomorrow.

QatarDebate encourages the Qatari society to promote debating strategies as an educational tool that helps the youth engage in a democratic discussion, increase their self-confidence and view different things logically. It also helps raise awareness among parents, teachers and youth.

 

QatartDebate Center trains students of free speech, free debate, the respect of the other, tolerance and understanding, science and logic, sense of responsibility and belonging to what he believes in, and expanding the students’ social circle through interaction with different communities.