Poland in Tanzania

Over 400 candidates initially applied to take part in the competition. From this group, 100 participants were then chosen to join the debate on social media lasting from December 15 to 30, 2024. At this stage, 20 finalists were selected, who then joined live debates at the Auditorium of the Library of the University of Dar es Salaam on January 30-31, 2025. Four teams composed of five players each competed for two days, demonstrating high culture of debate, above-average public speaking skills and argumentation skills.

The competition consisted of several stages, including online ones and finals that took place live in Dar es Salaam. Its main topic was a discussion on which one guarantees a more sustainable income: one’s own company/self-employment or full-time job. The EU Youth Debate Contest was announced on November 18, 2024, as part of efforts undertaken by the EU Delegation to Tanzania and the missions of EU Member States present in Tanzania, including the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Dar es Salaam, to increase the involvement of Tanzanian youth in discussions on socio-economic development of their country and improving their position in the local society. The debate competition is also meant to improve critical thinking skills, logical argumentation, cooperation and effective communication. Moreover it serves to support dialogue on development issues and, above all, to encourage young people to become more deeply involved in Tanzania's socio-economic challenges while at the same time improving their entrepreneurship, which is also in line with the priorities of Polish development cooperation with Tanzania.

Prizes in the competition were awarded to both individual competitors and teams. The winning team received cash prizes sponsored by the EU Delegation in Dar es Salaam. However, what awakened the most emotions among both: contestants and the audience, was the award in the form of an educational and cultural study visit to Poland, which will be carried out during the summer season later this year thanks to the financing by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland together with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Dar es Salaam.

The competition’s finale at the University of Dar es Salaam Library Auditorium gathered over 400 spectators, including students, civil society representatives, private sector leaders and media representatives. Moreover, it attracted the interest of numerous viewers following the online streamline of the finals. The event was also attended by EU Ambassador Christine Grau and Chargée d'affaires a.i. at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Dar es Salaam Katarzyna Sobiecka. In her speech, the Head of the EU Delegation in Dar es Salaam emphasized the importance of fostering critical thinking among young people and noted that the European Union is proud to support such initiatives. She also expressed hope that this event might be turned into an annual one to reach even more students and to contribute to strengthening the culture of debate in Tanzania. While addressing the competitors, judges and audience gathered during the final of the competition, the Head of the Polish Embassy in Dar es Salaam Katarzyna Sobiecka expressed her appreciation for the quality of the debate, which took place in the spirit of respect for the opinions of the opponents. This quality undoubtedly stemmed from both huge talent and excellent technical and substantive preparation of the contestants. Katarzyna Sobiecka also drew attention to Poland's long-standing involvement in supporting the development and empowering Tanzania’s youth, in particular within the framework of development cooperation and projects implemented thanks to financing under Polish Aid. Katarzyna Sobiecka congratulated all the winners, in particular those who obtained the highest number of points and thus won an educational and cultural study visit to Poland financed by the Polish side, i.e. Mrs. Careen James Ndika (Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science, University of Dar es Salaam), Diana Shabani (Bachelor of Laws, Tumaini University) and Kijafaraja Maduhu (Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies, University of Dar es Salaam).

We congratulate them on their victory and hope that their visit to Poland will enable them to make new, interesting acquaintances, deepen their knowledge of the history, geography, culture, architecture, art and cuisine of Poland, as well as bring closer about Polish experiences related to the successful political, social and economic transformation over the last few decades, in particular since Poland’s accession to the European Union. The books entitled About Polska received by the winners from the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Dar es Salaam will surely help them to get prepared for their trip to Poland.

Photos: EU Delegation in Dar es Salaam / Mr. David Masanja