With the World Economic Forum’s 2017 Global Gender Gap Report findings telling us that gender parity is over 200years away - there has never been a more important time to keep motivated and Press for Progress. The concept of IWD oratory for the primary and high school students is now an annual concept for SI Lautoka which is also a much anticipated even by students and teachers. The sponsor for this event for the last four years has been Oceania water Group Fiji and they have pledged their support for the future as well.

 In 2020, the oratory reached its 7thyear which has created a huge amount of advocacy on the gender parity topic at schools, on social media and on the day of the event itself with the future leaders taking centre stage and voicing their concerns on the topic. The club also understands that it is vital to include males in this advocacy there-fore male orators are encouraged to take part and male oratory trainers and oratory judges are included as a part of this campaign. The numbers have been pleasing as in2020, 30 Primary and 12 high schools participated in the event. Out of the 42 orators 11 were males which is the biggest number of male orator participation that has been seen in the last 7 years.

The event has grown in the last 7 years. The initial 2 years had just one primary school category, in the third year the decision to split into 2 categories was taken (Rural Primary/Urban Primary) and from the 4th year the high school category was added on so now we have 3 categories. The oratory judges readily offer their services as this event is rated very highly by the education fraternity. The quality of speakers has grown over the years and there is stiff competition in all categories. The youngest orator in 2018 was a year 3female student.

Also, the fact that the club is able to secure high profile chief guests for the occasion adds to the popularity of the event. Our goal is advocacy on the topic and this has been achieved in abundance from the day the students start training for the oratory in their school in front the whole school to the day of the event. The project is related to the following Sustainable Development Goals’; 3,5,11 &16.

As part of this I have writing oratory scripts and training orators for these events. It becomes an honor to be part of these advocate program. For the past five years my schools that I have written the oratory have been winning this rural category which is indeed an honor.

And this year due to promotion I could not take my current school for the competition however, I have now joined the judging team and part of the organization to ensure transparent judging system is up-held.

Approximately an average of 500 participants has been part of this event for the past 7 years. And these numbers continue to increase year in year out.