Kathmandu, April 8, 2018: 2nd International Women’s Debating Championship, co-organized by Debate Network Nepal (DNN) and Patan College for Professional studies from 30th March, concluded on 2nd April at St. Xavier’s College, Kathmandu.
This four days long championship ran on British Parliamentary (BP) style of debating and saw Ms. Simrika Manandhar and Ms. Priyanka Mahat from Team Enigma become the Opens Champions. Ms. Shrisha Sapkota and Ms. Simran Shrestha of Team Ashura grabbed the title of Novice Champions. Nishma Gautam and Apratim Shrivastav were declared the best speaker and the best adjudicator respectively.
DNN was found five years ago with a mission of institutionalizing debate culture in Nepal. As an annual plan of DNN, VidhuShe 2018 was organized in partnership with Zonta Club, Kathmandu and supported by Atharva Initiations and Muku Boutique. The event was also supported by Youth Initiative, VOW Media, St. Xavier’s College, Accessories Nepal, Tranquility Spa and Noble Treks. Booze Belly was the social partner for the event where the breaks were announced. NTV and Glocal Khabar were the media partners while Double A partnered digitally with the event.
The main objective of the event was to empower women and strengthen their quantitative and qualitative participation in debate community through debate training and competition with special focus on women related issues. Defending champion Ms. Iffat Sumaiya Mehzabeen from BRAC University, Bangladesh was the chief adjudicator this edition along with Ms. Shreya Joshi and Ms. Aayami Sapkota in the chief adjudication panel. DNN’s general members Shripa Pradhan and Alisha Bade Shrestha convened the championship.
Through competitive debate rounds, experienced international adjudication core and aspiring debaters, the championship ambience catered to intellectual discussions and debates related to gender equality, feminist movement, current affairs, criminal justice system and other socio-economic affairs.
“I began competitive debating from VidhuShe last year where I had to speak against teams like Iffat’s and the experience, though tough, inspired me to continue debating,” said Ameesha Rayamajhi, a finalist of both the editions of VidhuShe who has also been selected to represent Nepal in World Schools Debating Championship 2018 in Croatia recently.
The third edition will take place next year for which DNN is calling for co-organizes and partners soon.
