Inter-school debates (2018) at Herman Gmeiner school Multan

Annual debates at SOS Herman Gmeiner school is no ordinary event. It is the biggest ceremony that students, teachers, parents and all others associated with this school anxiously look forward to throughout the year. Although, it started as ordinary competitions within school, but now it has evolved into something phenomenal.

 In 2016, for the first time, students of SOS Herman Gmeiner school invited Beaconhouse school to their campus, inorder to contest with them and surprised them with proficiency at debates and sweeping victory. In 2017, Beaconhouse returned with better preparation, but SOS H.G. School had raised the barriers higher, earning them a clean sweep again.

As, it was not enough, in 2018,  Mahnaz Fareed Sheikh, the exceptional administrator and head of all SOS projects in Multan, invited all the big and famous schools of the city of saints, on SOS Herman Gmeiner campus to compete with her students. The vision was not to make others inferior, but to develop in students of H.G. school, that they are not less than others. They get equal opportunities, exposure and recognition, as any top notch, expensive school. When congratulated and wished victory, Mahnaz Fareed answered; ''The victory is to reach a level where our pupils stand equal. Regardless of who wins, SOS H.G. school proves victorious in breaking barriers''.... bringing everyone stand equal. Sublime indeed! Seven schools participated as equals at the event, which took place on 30th November 2018, at SOS Herman Gmeiner school. Beaconhouse, Bloomfield hall, Lahore Grammar school, The city school, Jinnah Highs, Multan Public school and H.G.School, itself.

The chief guest was the most learned and well known, Vice chancellor of Nishtar Medical university, Professor Dr. Mustafa Kamal Pasha. The judges included the names of Dr. Faraz Bilal, the visionary behind Physio institutes. Dr. Qamar Khushi, professor department of English, B.Z.U. Dr. Khawar Nawaz, Asst. Professor, department of Urdu, B.Z.U. Multan. D.P.O. Multan, Mr. Waseem, presided over the event, as guest of honor. The program started with recitation of Quran and its translation. Followed by national anthem. In which, all the participating schools were given representation on stage. Before the beginning of declamation contest, an acknowledgement for high achievers of the school was served.  Mahnaz Fareed Sheikh, invited Guest of honor, Mr. Waseem, D.P.O. Multan, to award medals to the students from H.G. School. Later, he addressed the gathering and expressed his awe and amazement over the excellence, he had witnessed at H.G. School. Debates started with great enthusiasm. School after school, student after student, delivered their views in most interesting manner. Keeping attention of judges and the audience fully engaged. There were also panel style debates, but once again, Urdu speeches were the crown of the show and left the hall in thunderous applause. All the students, from every school, gave their best. Meanwhile, efforts were made to keep the audience entertained. An extremely touching performance on patriotic song, 'Her Ek Pakistani ne Pukara Pakistan', conveying strong social messages of patriotism, honoring military, equality, respect and acceptance for minorities was staged. Which left everybody emotional and amazed. Audience were found expressing their amazement, if other schools also pay attention, to make their students aware of such variety of aspects as Pakistanis, as this school did.

Finally, Mahnaz Fareed announced the results. All the schools did very well and acquired first, second and third positions. Whereas, SOS H.G. School, turned out to bag the maximum of positions and won the trophy. The chief guest, Professor Dr. Mustafa Kamal Pasha, gave away the prizes to the winners. All the judges were invited on the stage and were presented tokens of thanks by SOS board members (team SOS), Hania Shahid presented shield to Dr. Faraz, Rameen Anis to Dr. Khawar Nawazish. Fariha Munir Shah was honored to award shields to the chief guest, Dr. Mustafa Kamal Pasha and also to Dr. Qamar Khushi. Fariha was also presented a special award as an acknowledgement for her support for the event.

The judges and the chief guest were invited to address the gathering. They were, but all praise for the school and were not reluctant in showing, how impressed they were by this school, its students and their capabilities. There were also kind words, said about Principal Mehar and efforts of Sir Kamran, the head of Boys branch. Madam Rubina Arshad (principal Beaconhouse school system), Umbreen Qureshi, Shazia Fareed, Saima Faisal, Rabia Rahman, Sidra Bakhtawar, Mr. Shahid Khokar, Mr. Najeeb, Mr. Fareed Sheikh, Mr. Bakhtawar Tanveer, were among the notables, who attended this event. At the end, all the guests were entertained with hi-tea.

We congratulate, SOS Herman Gmeiner school Multan, its staff members, students and  Mahnaz Fareed Sheikh for arranging the biggest debating contest ever held in Multan, with 7 top-notch schools together at one platform, none other than SOS school. It is an honor in itself, hosting so many schools together, but then SOS school also managed to get maximum 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions, acquiring 1st position in aggregate. Simply awesome!!

Folks! It is not just a matter of winning or losing. It is something beyond that. It is the vision behind it. When nobody thought, SOS was on the same level of any big school. Mahnaz came up with the idea, to prove it to the world that it was equally good. Giving the underprivileged children of SOS the confidence to feel like equals to those coming from Beaconhouse, LGS or any other. It is a great acknowledgement by all 7 schools being there, contesting, winning and losing. As Mahnaz exclaimed in her speech at the end of the show, this is the kind of Naya Pakistan we want, based on equality!

Believe me, SOS school is not just equal, but even better in few things. Just look at this contest, with seven schools. No other school had it. Rosetta Stone lab, which is an English language learning computer facility. Excellent teaching system, which keeps a check, even on the performance of teachers every day. And so much more.

 Congratulations once again. We love SOS Herman Gmeiner school Multan.

Mahnaz Fareed and Rameen

National anthem with representation from diferent schools

Mahnaz Fareed with guest of honor, Mr. D.P.O.

Professor Dr. Mustafa Kamal Pasha

All rise for national anthem

Mrs. Mehar, principal H.G.school. Sir Kamran, head of boys branch

                                 

D.P.O. awarding high achievers

The chief guest Professor Dr. Mustafa Kamal Pasha with Mr. Najeeb and Mr. Shahid Khokar

Dr. Fraz Bilal and Dr. Qamar Khushi among the judges

Another judge, Mr. Khawar Nawazish

Abdullah from LGS

Another cutie from LGS

                                                 

Dr. Faraz, Dr. Qamar Khushi and Mr. Khawar Nawazish, the judges together

                                       
                                                              Participants from Beaconhouse

Star debator of SOS H.G.School

Another star debator from SOS H.G.School

Mrs. Hania Shahid

Bakhtawar Tanveer

Mr. Shahid Khokar

The performance

Two great personalities, board members SOS HG school
Mrs. Samina Buccha and Rubina Arshad

Madam Rubina Arshad, Dr. Faraz Bilal and Dr.Qamar Khushi

Honorable guests

Board member, Rameen Anis presenting token of thanks to Mr. Khawar Nawazish

Mahnaz Fareed presenting token of thanks to Dr. Faraz Bilal

Mahnaz Fareed, Fariha Munir, presenting shield to Dr. Qamar Khushi




Board member, Fariha Munir presenting the shield to the chief guest Dr. Mustafa Kamal Pasha

Beaconhouse winners with their teacher and Principal, madam Rubina Arshad

Hania Shahid, Rameen Anis, Rubina Arshad with the judge, madam Qamar Khushi

(From Left to right) Ayesha Durrani, Dr. Faraz Bilal, Rubina Arshad, Rameen Anis, Hania Shahid, Mahnaz Fareed, Khawar Nawazish and Saima Faisal
in Selfies with Fariha Munir Shah