By Mike Rwothomio

Charity College Paidha emerged victorious in the SPACE-organized inter-district secondary schools debating competition held at COLLEIN AID offices in Zombo Town Council on Monday.

Adjudicated by the Madi Debating Club under the Karl Popper format, the contest centered on critical thinking, tolerance, and in-depth analysis of divisive environmental motions.

The debates focused on environmental conservation, enabling students to explore the root causes of environmental degradation, the factors accelerating it, and effective mitigation measures for ecosystem protection, climate resilience, and biodiversity preservation.

The Karl Popper debate format promoted key benefits including analytical thinking, teamwork, evidence-based reasoning, and open-mindedness. It encouraged structured three-person teams to break down complex environmental issues into core components, back claims with solid research, identify logical flaws, and engage in active listening through built-in cross-examination periods. 

Five teams Charity College Paidha, Nyapea College, Paidha SS, Atyak, and Pakadha Seed Secondary , competed on various environmental propositions.

Irene Apio of SPACE urged participating schools to sustain such engagements to advance environmental awareness, rights, and climate mitigation efforts.

With youth unemployment ranging from 16.1% to 18%, survival pressures often drive young people into informal, highly extractive activities that contribute to environmental degradation, according to UNBS data.

Apio emphasized that youth involvement in environmental conservation brings fresh ideas, strong action, and long-term protection, adding that Young people can drive positive change by adopting and sharing new green technologies, inspiring older generations, and building essential green skills for the future.

The SPACE initiative serves as a direct action to engage the younger generation in protecting and conserving the environment amid advancing climate change, habitat degradation, and biodiversity loss.

In Zombo District, this is particularly urgent following recent negative climatic events, including the deroofing of school classrooms and structures by strong winds, decimation of crops by hailstorms and pounding rains, uncontrolled wind damage linked to rampant tree cutting, prolonged dry spells, and other climate impacts.

Best overall speaker Lona Kwiocwiny of Charity College Paidha pledged to champion environmental causes by advocating for the formation of an environmental club in her school to promote environmental conservation.

Vice LCV Hassan Ringtho called on debaters to translate their rhetoric into practical conservation activism, underscoring the dangers posed by environmental degradation. 

He assured that the youth-led debate, described as an “extensive engagement,” would help influence district policy and decision-making toward stronger environmental conservation.

“One of the ways that young people are aiding in the fight to preserve nature is through youth-led movements. Movements led by the youth have immense power,” Ringtho said.

Meanwhile, Assistant RDC Bruno Mananu commended participants for their insightful arguments and praised SPACE’s impactful initiative.

He urged students “to be climate change agents in your respective schools and community” so the district can achieve the desired healthy environment.

According to SPACE, today more than ever, youth play a crucial role in environmental conservation and restoration. “Our enthusiasm and dedication to protecting nature are not only motivating, but essential in driving the necessary changes required to safeguard the environment for everyone, for future generations.”

SPACE is a non-governmental organization implementing the “Strengthening Environmental Accountability and Climate Action project in the West Nile.” 

The project is being rolled out by SPACE in Zombo District across the sub-counties of Atyak, Kango, Nyapea, Abanga, and Paidha. A consortium of partner NGOs is implementing it in other areas: Rice West Nile in Obongi and Madi-Okolo, Friends of Zoka in Adjumani, and the African Centre for Energy and Mineral Policy in Amudat and Nakapiripirit.

Zombo Assistant RDC Bruno Manano hands over the trophy to students of Charity College Paidha at COLEIN AID offices in Zombo Town Council.

Students during the session

Handing over of certificates to the best overall speaker.

Irene Apio from SPACE

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at Zoomer Africa your number one grassroot information hub for African news trends and updates.