The Project SD
Written by: Pari Vardhineedi
Edited by: Sanah Bhardwaj
The courage to raise your voice, speak out, and fight for what’s right is needed now more than ever, and it’s needed within everyone. The Project SD recognizes the potential within everyone to influence change, and they aid others in strengthening their hold through speech and debate. And as The Project SD says, “All voices should be heard. Not just the voices that can afford microphones.”
The Project SD, a nonprofit organization founded by Nihar Duvvuri in 2020, aims to introduce Speech & Debate programs in at least 50 low-income neighborhoods by 2030. The Project SD understands that Speech & Debate can be exclusive and inaccessible to those within low-income, low equity, and minority groups, and that the voices of these groups are drowned in the crowd. As a response to this prevalent inequity, the Project SD platform was created to help every student, regardless of socioeconomic status, have their voices heard.
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The Project SD knows the significance and impact of speech & debate on lives, so through their program, they hope to start influencing positive change. They know that through their program, they can empower voices and foster an empowered community of people ready to enact change and speak out against rising issues. And through their platform, they can guarantee that everyone has the opportunity to create change.
In order to achieve their goal, the Project SD starts Speech & Debate Programs in schools through creating thorough curriculums, hiring experienced coaches to teach and guide the students, and raising funds for their programs. In addition, recently, The Project SD announced that they’ll be holding their summer camps for 3rd-9th graders to teach them foundational speech and debate skills. Their Public Speaking camp teaches 3rd-5th graders the skills (creative writing, speech delivery, etc.) needed to develop their unique voice. This Speech & Debate camp introduces 6th-9th graders to the various competitive events (Extemporaneous, Original Oratory, etc.) in Speech & Debate. These effective, affordable camps prepare students for success within Speech & Debate, help students build confidence, and teach them how to use their voice to speak up. The money raised from the summer camps contribute to funding and establishing new speech and debate programs in San Francisco middle and high schools for the upcoming school year.
What’s the significance of speech & debate? Speech & Debate allows students to foster workplace skills, obtain greater chances of success on the SAT or ACT, develop values and morals that will, one day, benefit society, and create long-lasting bonds with those who share the same interests, values, and power. In addition, it strengthens individuals’ linguistic and logical skills, helping them develop skills within critical thinking, persuasion, and research. These skills become useful in everyday life, from successfully selling a business proposal to fluidity in interviews and group discussions. Speech & Debate helps individuals develop adaptability. Since a speech & debate individual can never predict every aspect of their opponent’s argument or when they may forget their script, they learn to respond swiftly and with appeal to uphold their own argument. Finally, speech & debate serves as a gateway to pioneering careers in politics, entrepreneurship, etc. With the skills of critical thinking, persuasion, and research, individuals within these careers create their own pathways to success, address challenges as opportunities, and highlight the differences between them and their competitors to sell their product/idea. Speech & Debate helps individuals find success within those skills, and it helps individuals develop these characteristics from the start through their competitions, researching arguments, and strengthening public-speaking.
The Project SD strives to achieve a goal that will aid and transform the lives of future generations to come, but they need your help. They need funds, support, and public awareness of their mission to implement these programs in low-income communities and to provide this opportunity for many students. So, donating any amount, volunteering, or even spreading the word helps; your contribution in any way helps The Project SD achieve their goal.
Visit The Project SD’s website to learn further about their organization’s initiative, programs, and services. Their website is https://theprojectsd.com/.
