Yasmine Alwakal, 10th in the World in the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships

Yasmine Alwakal, 10th in the World in the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships

Our College is proud to announce that Yasmine Alwakal (Year 11) has taken the world by storm in the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Competition (WIDPSC) finishing in 10th place overall. Yasmine has achieved a remarkable result - the best result ever achieved by an OLMC student!

The Championships were due to be held in Shanghai, China in April, however, COVID-19 prevented the event from going ahead. Fortunately, the titles were rescheduled through Zoom from the 14-24 August.

WIDPSC requires students to interact and collaborate with like-minded peers from diverse and different schools, cultural backgrounds and countries. Each participant must compete in four different events:  Debate, Impromptu Speaking, Persuasive or After Dinner Speaking and Interpretive Reading. The event provides an avenue for individual students, not only to practise and test their oratorical skills but to value the importance of the art of expression.

Yasmine spoke with around 60 of the best students around the world that all qualified through the National Titles.

In her 10-minute Persuasive speech, Yasmine explored the unreliable nature of evidence.

An excerpt from the novel ‘Night Rainbow’, was chosen by Yasmine for her Interpretive reading. This focussed on the nature of grieving.

Two debates were live on Zoom, the first one about whether private schools should be forced to subsidise those students in need in their local area and the second about whether we should have a four-day working week.

For her first live impromptu, Yasmine chose ‘Outrage’ and looked at how we need to change the Australian image. The topic of ‘You’ll be caught’ was chosen for her second impromptu speaking about the importance of monitoring the idea of truth in media.

Congratulations Yasmine. Your name will go down in the record books!