Media Release

Kuwait, May 17: Indian Muslim Welfare Association (IMWA) conducted Edumeet 2017 at Salmiya Indian Model School on May 12. Edumeet is an annual event held by the association wherein Indian students are given an opportunity to demonstrate their talents. The programme was hosted by Israa Naeemuddin and Afra Mohammed Khalid. The event comprised of an essay writing competition and an inter-school debate competition.

The event started with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Saima Bandarkar, followed by the English translation by Asma Manshauddin. Essay writing competition was next. The participants were divided into three groups based on their class - Group A (classes VII and VIII), Group B (classes IX and X) and Group C (classes XI and 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 during the debate.

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 employ 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 Moli Divakaran, lecturer at Box Hill College of Kuwait; Dr Sabiha Bilgrami from Kuwait University, also the president of Kuwait Leaders Toastmasters Club; Alison Larkin Koushki, who taught at the American University of Kuwait Intensive English Programme for seven years, and Rana Khan who is currently the English 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 upto 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 presented gift hampers.

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, 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 Sanjeev Saklani and IMWA executive council members.

Debate winners:

Winner - Mohammad Mishal
Indian Community School, Senior Branch

First runner up – Ketan Maheshwari
Indian Educational School

Second runner up – Ayisha Wafiyath
Indian Community School, Khaitan Branch

Debate school trophy
Indian Community School, senior branch - Mohammad Mishal and Aneez Mohammed

Essay writing winners

Group A (class VII - VIII)
Winner – Zainab Al Ghazali
Salmiya Indian Model School

First 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

First 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

First runner up – Niranjan Anand
Indian Education School

IMWA talent – Summayya Parveen
Indian Community School, senior branch