Youth Speaks: A Debate

A grounding in debating

Youth Speaks: A Debate, another long-standing nationwide competition run by Rotary across the country, aims at giving young people an experience in debating and public speaking that will benefit them forever.

Teams are drawn from senior schools and, depending on their age, compete in junior, intermediate or senior categories. Each team has three members – chairperson, proposer and opposer – who have 15 minutes to debate a subject of the team’s choice.

The winners in each age group go forward to the district heat… and maybe to the cluster finals. 

Latest news

 Improving Harpenden’s living environment

Rotary in Harpenden, known in the town for staging major community events like Classics on the Common and the Harpenden Quiz of Quizzes, and for running several activities for the benefit of young people, in 2023 expanded our activities in an effort to improve the living environment for residents of Harpenden and surrounding villages.

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Raffle prizes are a hit, too

Just as the Harpenden Quiz of Quizzes, organised by Rotary in Harpenden, is hugely popular among scores of quiz enthusiasts, so are the event’s raffle prizes. Pictured above are the 20 colourful gift bags, each containing a wide range of items generously donated by local businesses and Rotary in Harpenden members. Ticket sales for the raffle draw raised over £1000 for charity.

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Youth Speaks attracts nine teams for debate

Four schools fielded nine teams for debate in this year’s Youth Speaks contest, held at Aldwickbury Park Golf Club. The range of topics debated could not have been wider nor the debates more spirited.

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