Oral East Africa
Debating is one of those things that when you are seated on listening side you tend to know of what the speaker should have said. But in the heat of the moment with a constant reminder of how little time you have left, it is usually off the top of your head and voice.
Watching law students from 16 universities argue out their ideas on the family unit to commemorate the UN International Day of the family reminded me of my debating days, how little I knew then and how much of the world I have come to learn.
I found these young men and women’s heated arguments and boisterous words quite informed and even learned a thing or two on their perspectives on family and the community's space in it.
New Family units
The students articulated their learning experiences, their observable worlds and new constructs from social media circles showed just how much we need to re-learn to understand the families of the future.
“The essence of this debate is the reality we are all in, we talk about the Genz and the challenges they face. But the tools we have are the traditional ones we have had for a long time so it is important to understand what is the conceptualization of this issue,” Prof Nicholas Orago, Dean school of law Maseno University.
Before forming my own family, I doubt I ever paid much attention to the concept that enveloped my everyday life. This was the first time I marked the International UN Day of the family that allowed me to reflect on some of the issues they were raising.
UN Day for reflection on family
This day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families, understanding and appreciation of the family and its place in individual dignity and self-fulfillment as well as societal well-being.
“We are contemplating the family in the face of climate change, as well as various challenges facing the family in modern times, through structured debates that allow the learners to think through the various things that affect the family and debate each other on the family structures matters limiting the full enjoyment of the family protection of the family unit,” Martin Onyango debate coordinator said.
The Debate is an opportunity for young people in society to explore and interrogate the concept of the family in front of their peers and judged by former Kenya Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Baraza.
Dr Baraza said she was impressed by the depth of knowledge and hopes such inspiring conversation can elevate university students to start integrating challenges in society and come up with new critical ideas.
“As we engage our students we are equipping them with the capacity to be critical when they look at these issues, when they try to understand these issues and probably come up with more critical tools which we can address new challenges,” Dr Baraza said.
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