Second Debate Workshop with Kaabe Schools
c/o Kaabe Schools
Earlier this year, Eloquence Academy partnered with the Rural Debate Initiative (RuDI). We hosted an Intro to Debate Seminar for 15 elementary school students at Kaabe Schools in rural Somaliland. The program was an extension of our previous Intro to Debate Seminar that we hosted for Kaabe in November of 2025.
Since emerging from civil war and state collapse more than three decades ago, Somaliland has made strides toward stability, yet significant challenges persist. There is a desperate need to rebuild infrastructure and extend learning opportunities to the next generation of Somalilanders. Founded in 2019 and supported by Horn of Africa Education Development Fund, an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Kaabe is a scaling system of schools across Somaliland dedicated to student-centered, community-oriented, and inclusive education. Through a Montessori pedagogical approach, students participate in a comprehensive curriculum integrating modern academics, national education standards, English immersion, and Islamic teachings, including Quran, Hadith, and Arabic language. With dozens of campuses, Kaabe is staffed with Barwaqqo-trained teachers and managed by graduates who returned from top universities abroad, having created over 100 teaching careers.
c/o Rural Debate Initiative
Our Intro to Debate Seminars are scheduled during a school’s grade-wide assembly or town hall period. Fluent and intermediate English speakers worked with our team members Spencer Chaisanguanthum and Saira Julka. The seminar began with icebreakers and a short keynote about the positive impacts of debate, both anecdotal and statistical. Students were then placed into smaller groups and guided through their first round on oil drilling. A highly prominent issue in Somaliland, oil drilling has significant economic potential, environmental risks, and social implications. Students formed transnational relationships, strengthened their communication skills, and developed an enthusiasm for public speaking—all in English. Even if some students discovered debate is not for them, they saw what a fun experience it is to speak and be heard.
Following the seminar, all students completed a form to indicate interest in a consistent in-school coaching program. Over the next three months, Seattle Regional Director Amina Abedi will host weekly coachings with a smaller cohort of students, strengthening their debate skills while further exploring the oil drilling topic.
We are grateful to the Kaabe and RuDI teams and are proud of what their students accomplished.
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Eloquence Academy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and 509(a)(2) public charity dedicated to increasing equitable academic debate opportunities for rural and historically underserved students. The world’s largest youth-led nonprofit of its kind, EA offers live debate programs for 2,700+ students and online debate resources for 15,579 students. The Academy’s philanthropic initiative, the Eloquence Charitable Fund, has partnered a national network of 150 charities, schools, and nonprofits; certified 50,000 volunteer hours; and delivered 25,000 products to individuals in need. Ultimately, the Academy has prepared youth across 50 states and 102 countries for college readiness, career engagement, and community impact. Follow EA on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Rural Debate Initiative (RuDI) is a nationally focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free debate education to students in rural areas. Supported by a group of experienced educators and passionate debaters, RuDI programs serve as a one-stop solution for all debate-related resources, providing everything a school needs to build a successful debate program. RuDI champions and leverages the assets unique to rural communities and rural individuals, equipping students with a variety of skills such as communication, critical thinking, leadership, and teamwork that prepares them for any educational or career path of their choosing.
