Community Youth Centre Debate - Example 1 PDF

**Adjudicator:** Good afternoon everyone and welcome to today's debate. We are here to discuss the \$1.5 million grant for the newly established community youth centre in Seaford. Two non-profit organisations will be presenting their proposals, starting with organisation *HealthYouth.* **HealthYout...

**Adjudicator:** Good afternoon everyone and welcome to today's debate. We are here to discuss the \$1.5 million grant for the newly established community youth centre in Seaford. Two non-profit organisations will be presenting their proposals, starting with organisation *HealthYouth.* **HealthYouth:** *(Speaker 1, confident)* We at *HealthYouth* strongly believe that we are restricted in terms of being active at school. Physical Education is only compulsory for students in Years 7-10, leaving them with just four lessons per week, along with recess and lunch, to be physically active inside school. According to WHO, for someone to be considered 'active', they must take part in an average of 60 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous intensity, physical activity across the week. That\'s why we propose including a public gym in our centre. As we know, the gym is the ideal place for someone to improve and develop their personal health. Our gym will employ staff which will create employment, include access to both free-weights and machines, and will be open 24/7 for convenient use. Our proposal ensures that students will have access to a facility to consistently engage in 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day. School places significant focus on education, and our extra-curricular youth centre will place significant focus on fitness, which will compliment a young person's mind and body appropriately. **Study 4or All:** *(Speaker 1, rises)* There is no doubt that physical activity is vital for our youth. However, school is a space where we go to consume and apply newly learnt information, and we have fewer efficient ways to do this in our spare time. We are given enough time after school each day to fit in 60 minutes of, as *HealthYouth* mentioned, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. A student can take their dog for a walk, run on a treadmill, or visit a local park, but where can they go to study in peace? That\'s what motivates us, *Study 4or All*, to appeal for the grant of this community youth centre. We plan to establish a small community library that students can access outside of school hours, offering them a pleasant environment to study in. Staffed by volunteers, our library will include four sitting areas for absolute comfort. Our proposal aims to provide young people with educational resources such as books and computers, to support their learning and academic achievements. **HealthYouth:** *(Speaker 2, prepares)* We want to clarify that the focus of our youth centre goes beyond just physical fitness. We plan to invite paid health experts such as dietitians, nutritionists, and counsellors to visit frequently on weekdays to educate our youth on ways to improve their health and wellbeing. Students will have access to informative presentations and sessions, and the opportunity to ask questions and seek advice from these experts. Our aim is to provide them with knowledge and tools that they can integrate into their daily lives. We definitely believe that a student\'s mind should be as strong as their body to face the inevitable challenges of life. **Study 4or All:** *(Speaker 2, passionate)* We understand that our youth are facing many challenges in their lives, one of which is homework. Anxiety caused by homework occurs in many students feeling overwhelmed by the work they are given in class. Many students struggle to get the support they need from their teachers, and parents may not always have the expertise to provide reliable guidance. To address this, we will offer funded tutoring services at our youth centre. Students will be able to schedule after-school sessions with their tutors to receive the help they need to thrive. May we inquire, if your focus is not centred purely on fitness as you claim, then how else do you plan to teach our youth how to practice healthy lifestyles? **HealthYouth:** *(Speaker 3, calm)* You raise a valuable point. In addition to promoting physical activity, our youth centre will also feature a community garden. This garden offers students an opportunity to gain valuable knowledge about nutrition and healthy food choices while helping to grow fresh, locally sourced produce. Aboriginal education programs will be in place, as students learn about 'bush tucker' and native plants of the Kaurna region. The University of NSW state that, *'community gardens can play a significant role in enhancing the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being necessary to build healthy and socially sustainable communities.'* In addition to on-site learning, students will also help to strengthen the community bond in Seaford. By awarding us the grant, we commit to exceeding the expectations of the government, parents, and students in our community with the creation of our centre. We will encourage group development and provide a space for students to learn and mature collectively. We are grateful for the chance to address you today, and hope that you will support our vision for a healthier and more connected community. **Study 4or All:** *(Speaker 3, assertive)* Our youth centre will partner with Seaford Secondary College to offer skill development and training programs. Students will learn life skills, develop their cognitive function, and receive extra-curricular education. These activities will be designed to develop important life skills, such as teamwork, leadership, and communication. Through our organisation, the youth centre will provide students in the Seaford community with that support. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to speak today and showcase how our youth centre can benefit students in Seaford. **Adjudicator:** That concludes this afternoon's debate. I have reached a conclusive decision on the allocation of the \$1.5 million grant for the new community youth centre. Both sides have offered compelling arguments, substantiating their claims with verified statistics and research. When considering supply and demand for the Seaford area, there are a variety of health-based services for students, however the same may not be said for their studies. *Study 4or All\'s* proposal offers opportunities for students to enhance their academic skills and future career aspirations, therefore, the grant will be awarded to their organisation. Thank you to all who contributed, the debate will now close. **Total Words:** 1,000 (excluding bibliography) **Bibliography:** - Physical Activity (2023) World Health Organization. World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity (Accessed: February 7, 2023). - Thompson, S., Corkery, L. and Judd, B. (2007) The Role of Community Gardens in Sustaining Healthy Communities. UNSW. Available at: https://soac.fbe.unsw.edu.au/2007/SOAC/theroleofcommunitygardens.pdf (Accessed: February 13, 2023). - Homework Anxiety Explained (2023) Brain Balance Achievement Centers. Available at: https://www.brainbalancecenters.com/blog/homework-anxiety-explained\#:\~:text=Some%20common%20causes%20of%20homework,and%20quizzes%2C%20which%20affect%20grades. (Accessed: February 21, 2023). - Learn How Libraries Change lives (2020) Libraries Change Lives. Available at: https://librarieschangelives.org.au/learn-more/ (Accessed: February 21, 2023). - Benefits and Skill Development (2022) PEN Worldwide. Available at: https://penworldwide.org/benefits-development-of-skills-and-comptences/ (Accessed: February 21, 2023). - Health and Fitness Services in Onkaparinga (2023) SAcommunity. Available at: https://sacommunity.org/search?s= (Accessed: February 21, 2023).