In recent times, Wales has performed extremely well on both a national and international level and the ‘sport' of debating has proliferated tremendously.
There are a number of ways you can get involved in debating:
- The first thing to do is to take some serious initiative by setting up a debating society or ‘club' at your school, college or University. A number of links below take you straight to the relevant information supplied by the official debating body in Wales. These online booklets give you comprehensive details concerning rules and advice on setting up your school's first debating society.
- You don't have to debate to be involved in debating. A proper contest requires judges; timekeepers and a complementing audience.
- Compete! The Welsh Schools debating championships offers the winners a free trip to the International competition – this year's event was held in Alberta, Canada. (Please see second link below).
For advice on entering competitions; setting-up your own debating society as well as other advice booklets on everything from judging a debate to potential strategies
The following link provides information specifically for the National debating championships in Wales:
Model United Nations:
As the name suggests, a model United Nations session offers students at school of University the opportunity to participate in a simulated UN session. Each year CEWC-Cymru organises Model United Nations meetings for young people across Wales. The meetings are an interactive and fun way to develop an understanding of proceedings at the UN through its institutions such as the General Assembly and the Security Council .
They are realistic settings for young people to be informed and discuss some of the most significant contemporary world issues. The events also enhance the important skills of research, negotiation and debate .
Whereas many Universities and schools in Wales already have a Model UN society in place, others do not. This does not mean however that schools cannot participate in |
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Volunteering:
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The word volunteering is used for a range of activities such as community service, self-help, charity, neighbourliness, citizenship, public service, community action, community involvement, trustee, member, helper.
To some people it is an act of kindness; to others it is a means of achieving a personal goal or putting something back into society. |
It is also a way of gaining new skills and improving job prospects.
Volunteers come from all walks of life and are active in almost every aspect of society that you can think of - from visiting elderly people, to sitting on a magistrates' bench, to governing local schools, to performing in a local play or coaching young athletes.
Information regarding one of the major volunteer groups covering Clwyd South can be found at the following links:
http://www.volunteering-wales.net
A website offering information and advice to young people hoping to volunteer. Includes information on exciting projects and advice on applications.
http://www.millenniumvolunteers.gov.uk/
Millennium volunteers is a very well respected organisation where recognised awards are delivered to successful volunteers who volunteer for a certain period of time.
http://www.csv.org.uk/
2005 is ‘the year of the volunteer'. This site has everything from small voluntary projects to GAP years for those who are looking for something a little more challenging.
Citizenship
Citizenship is now a formal part of the national Curriculum in England.
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The Welsh Assembly Government, rather than implementing a new policy on this issue has instead decided to integrate this area of education into the PSE framework (Personal and Social education). Citizenship is seen as many as the most fundmentally important aspects of education. Citizenship is exactly as it sounds – being a good citizen.
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The purpose of education in the area of Citizenship is simple: Throughout life, most of us will be confronted with very important decisions and realities of life. Presenting these for discussion earlier in life prepares and matures us.
For each Key stage, targest for knowledge and understand are set in each of the ‘Aspects' that are listed below:
- Social
- Community
- Physical
- Sexual
- Emotional
- Spiritual
- Moral
- Vocational
- Learning Environment
ACCAC, the cirriculum authority for Wales, publishes these targets in the PSE Framework.
If you would like further information on this new aspect of the national Cirriculum, a document published by the ACCAC can be found at:
http://www.accac.org.uk/eng/content.php?mID=255
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