BauHouse debate semi-finals highlight youth brilliance and bold ideas
Learners from Zimbabwe and South Africa tackled challenging topics with passion and purpose, bringing the championship closer to its grand finale.
The BauHouse International School’s Debate and Speech Championship reached an exciting stage as semi-finalists battled for a coveted spot in the finals and a step closer to becoming the 2025 public speaking champion.
Six learners gave their all, delivering powerful speeches on a range of compelling topics.
Among them were Dannielle Matuku and Jed January from Hillcrest College, who had previously competed as part of their school’s junior debate team against Birch Acres Secondary School in the finals.
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Each semi-finalist was given a topic, only seconds to plan their speech, and a few minutes to present to the judges and audience.
While some struggled, others captivated the room with confident and persuasive delivery.
Rutendo Apakuti from Dominican Convent (Zimbabwe) tackled the topic “Art is not a luxury; it is a necessity in the STEAM field.”
Despite a challenging start, Rutendo found her footing and delivered a convincing argument.
Tavonga Msasanure from Falcon College (Zimbabwe) presented “Innovation without inclusion is failure in disguise,” impressing the judges with insightful points on equitable innovation.
Dannielle Matuku from Hillcrest College (Zimbabwe) spoke on “Not everything needs an app,” highlighting the isolating impact of technology on modern life.
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“When I was a kid, we went out with friends to eat, watch movies, and enjoy our day. Today, we are so isolated, talking, ordering food, and watching movies all through our phones. Our phones are literally our lives,” Matuku said.
She challenged the audience to reflect on the last time they spoke to a friend face-to-face or bought food without using an app.
Other semi-finalists included:
Yalezwa Chiweshe from Falcon College (Zimbabwe) on “Vaccines should be mandatory in the age of misinformation,” sharing experiences from the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges of fake vaccination cards.
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Ethan Makweya from BauHouse Academy (South Africa) on “We are over-engineering the future.”
Jed January from Hillcrest College on “Great engineering begins with empathy, not equations.”
The semi-finals showcased the students’ creativity, critical thinking, and ability to engage the audience.
