Indian Muslim Welfare Association (IMWA) conducted the EDUMEET 2017 at Salmiya Indian Model School on 12th May 2017. EDUMEET is an annual event held by the association wherein Indian students are given an opportunity to demonstrate their talents. The program was hosted by Ms. Israa Naeemuddin and Ms. Afra Mohammed Khalid. The event comprised of an essay writing competition and an inter-school debate competition.
The event started by the recitation of the Holy Quran by Ms. Saima Bandarkar, followed with the English translation by Ms. Asma Manshauddin. After that, the essay writing competition commenced. The participants were divided into three groups based on their classes - Group A (Class VII – VIII), Group B (Class IX – X) and Group C (Class XI – XII). Each group was given a different topic with a time limit of 30 minutes and a word limit of 250 words. A panel of four eminent judges from various Indian schools in Kuwait were given the tough task of evaluating the essays and selecting the winners from each group as the debate was going on.
Ms. Alison Larkin Koushki conducted an interactive presentation with the audience, based on her project REALL, “Read English Actively for Language and Life Skills”. In her technique, students use the arts - drawing, painting, music, drama, and choreography -to celebrate literature.
This was followed by the debate competition. The 12 participating schools, one of which included IMWA’s own Talent team, sent in two competent contestants each. The topic of the debate was “Have we exchanged our traditional values for a pair of jeans?” Each team had one contestant to argue for the motion, and the other to argue against. A panel of four distinguished adjudicators evaluated the participants’ performance simultaneously. The panel consisted of - Mrs. Moli Divakaran, Lecturer at Box Hill College of Kuwait; Dr. Sabiha Bilgrami from Kuwait University, also the president of Kuwait Leaders Toastmasters Club; Ms. Alison Larkin Koushki, who taught in the American University of Kuwait Intensive English Program for 7 years, and finally Ms. Rana Khan who is currently the English Language Instructor at College of Education, Kuwait University. The evaluation was processed online as the data entered by the judges was transmitted live to the moderator, Mohammad Zahid.
The debate was fiercely contested by all the participants giving sharp arguments for their perspective of the topic. Young orators used their presentation skills, body language and stage presence as the audience cheered on. After each participant concluded their speech, the judges put across a question to them based on their stance and what they had spoken. The participants were up to the challenge, citing examples and using their presence of mind in answering the tough and tricky questions put across by the judges.
The audience, consisting of the contestants’ families and teachers, were kept involved by the MCs during the breaks. They were asked random questions and those who gave correct answers were given gift hampers.
Mr. Sanjeev Saklani – Attache of Education at the Indian Embassy, also graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. He expressed his appreciation of IMWA’s efforts to host such events for the benefit of the children from the Indian Community in Kuwait.
IMWA’s President, Mr. Jawaid Anwar, mentioned in his speech that the debate competition is very useful for preparing students for their future careers and thanked the IMWA Executive Council Members for their efforts in putting together such events.
The debate and essay writing judges were given mementos by IMWA’s president, the Chief Guest, and IMWA’s General Secretary. Special gifts were given to the MCs and moderator for their contribution to the success of the event.
The results of both the essay writing and debate competition were declared immediately after the event and certificates and prizes were distributed to the winners by the chief guest Mr. Sanjeev Saklani and IMWA Executive Council members.
DEBATE WINNERS
Winner - Mohammad Mishal
Indian Community School, Senior Branch
1st Runner up – Ketan Maheshwari
Indian Educational School
2nd Runner up – Ayisha Wafiyath
Indian Community School, Khaitan Branch
DEBATE SCHOOL TROPHY
INDIAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL, SENIOR BRANCH – Mohammad Mishal & Aneez Mohammed
ESSAY WRITING WINNERS
GROUP A (Class VII - VIII)
Winner – Zainab Al Ghazali
Salmiya Indian Model School
1st Runner up – Ram Prakash
Salmiya Indian Model School
IMWA Talent – Faiza Hanif
Integrated Indian School
GROUP B (Class IX - X)
Winner – Anfal Uzma Deenaz
Indian Community School, Senior Branch
1st Runner up – Yusra Asad Khan
Indian Community School, Senior Branch
IMWA Talent - Ayisha Wafiyath
Indian Community School, Khaitan Branch
GROUP C (Class XI - XII)
Winner – Aqeela Ahmad
India International School
1st Runner up – Niranjan Anand
Indian Education School
IMWA Talent – Summayya Parveen
Indian Community School, Senior Branch