The Gift Givers Institute
With the end of the 2024 National Speech and Debate Tournament, the 2023-2024 speech season has officially ended!
From attending local tournaments to traveling out of state to compete, students from across the globe have given their best performances. However, in the upcoming months, the process of drafting, practicing, and performing will start over again. As we continue to the next season, it is important to acknowledge what Speech and Debate means to each of us. To many, it may be a chance to meet new people and ideas. For others, it may be to advocate for marginalized communities.
A perspective of the activity that piqued our interest, however, was that every speech should be viewed as a gift. These words from Bob Ickes have become the founding principle of the Gift Givers Institute, a program created by Vansh Mathur to make speech and Debate coaching more accessible to students.
The organization takes access to a new level, collaborating with organizations like Space City Camp to ensure engaged participants thrive within Speech and Debate. Most importantly, GGI directly provides lectures from the best speakers and interpreters in the program. With an array of nationally acclaimed alumni, coaches, and renowned staff, The Gift Givers Institute emphasizes equality without sacrificing the quality that more prestigious camps are known to offer. With GGI’s success, the program’s mission is clearly accomplished for those who participate. So why not join in?
Check out The Gift Givers Institute’s social media and website to learn more about the organization and how to get involved. Also, listen to our interview below with Vansh Mathur to learn more about the initiative’s mission. It is time we saw tournaments as opportunities to give our gifts of advocacy, argumentation, and community to everyone.
“ ‘Every speech is a gift’ ... It was this constant reminder of the value of this activity, the value of being able to stand up and deliver a message.”
Transcript Coming Soon
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Transcript Coming Soon 〰️
