Sikh youth symposium
Encyclopedia
The Sikh Youth Symposium is an annual public speaking
and debate
competition held for the Sikh
youth across the United States of America and Canada, encouraging them to reconnect with their cultural foundations and religious roots. Organized by the Sikh Youth Alliance of North America (SYANA), the competition is open to children between the ages of 6 and 22 and has three levels--locals, regionals, and internationals. The children are divided into five groups, on the basis of age, with the first four groups competing by way of prepared speeches and the final group engaging in a stimulating discussion focused on a yearly chosen topic. The competition aims to ensure that the next generation of Sikh leaders remains firmly connected to the basic principles of its religion
.
The local level of the competition is usually held within a gurdwara
. The winners in each group of the competition advance to the regional level, which usually involves four to five gurdwaras in close geographical proximity. The winners in each group of this competition advance to the international level, which is hosted in a different city across the United States of America and Canada every year.
At the local, regional, and international level for groups I - IV, the competition is held in the form of a prepared speech
. Group I's allotted time is 5 minutes, Group II's allotted time is 6 minutes, Group III's allotted time is 6 minutes, and Group IV's allotted time is 7 minutes. A panel of three judges assesses the speeches, weighing 60% of a participant's score on his/her content (answering the questions) and the remaining 40% on the participant's presentation (style and delivery, eye contact, voice and diction, language, and overall effectiveness). For Group V, the local and regional competition is usually a prepared speech, graded in the same manner as groups I-IV. However, the international competition for Group V is a debate between the winners from each region. The debate consists of four phases--opening statements, questions from the moderator
, closing statements, and questions from the sangat
--and typically lasts three hours.
Whereas the local and regional competition are completed in a day in April/May, the international competition spans the entire first weekend of August. Finalists and their families arrive in the host city on a Thursday, checking in that evening and receiving their informational packets for the weekend. Also on Thursday evening, the regional and international conveners meet to decide on the books and international host city for the next year. On Friday morning, the competition for Group I, Group II, and Group III is typically held before langar and Group IV's competition is held after langar. On Friday evening, participants and their families enjoy a social activity, ranging from a tour of the city and it's notable landmarks to a fun activity, such as bowling or attending a rodeo.
Group II: Sikhism by Sikh Missionary College, Ludhiana
Group III: Teaching Sikh Heritage to the Youth - Lessons Learnt Vol. 2 by Dr. Gurbakhsh Singh
Group IV: Sundri by Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singh
Group V: When a Tree Shook Delhi - The 1984 Carnage and its Aftermath by Mr. Manoj Mitta and Harvinder Singh Phoolka
Group II: The Sikh Sakhis by Dr. Gurbakhsh Singh
Group III: Banda Singh Bahadur by Sikh Missionary College, Ludhiana
Group IV: The Message of Gurbani by Sikh Missionary College, Ludhiana
Group V: Shabad Guru and False Gurudom by Sikh Missionary College, Ludhiana
Group II: First Place - Jaslina Kaur (Seattle, Washington), Second Place - Harchint Singh (Midwest), Third Place - Gurjit Kaur (Khalsa School)
Group III: First Place - Arjan Singh (Niagara Falls), Second Place - Manun Singh (Dallas, Texas), Third Place - Sehaj Singh (Georgia)
Group IV: First Place - Jasmeet Kaur (Toronto, Ontario), Second Place - Tejasvir Singh (Georgia), Third Place - Gurpartap Singh (Seattle, Washington)
Group V: First Place - Jaywin Singh (Dallas, Texas), Second Place - Jaskirat Kaur (Boston, Massachusetts), Third Place - Satprit Kaur (Seattle Washington)
Public speaking
Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners...
and debate
Debate
Debate or debating is a method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examines consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examines what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is a technique of persuasion...
competition held for the Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
youth across the United States of America and Canada, encouraging them to reconnect with their cultural foundations and religious roots. Organized by the Sikh Youth Alliance of North America (SYANA), the competition is open to children between the ages of 6 and 22 and has three levels--locals, regionals, and internationals. The children are divided into five groups, on the basis of age, with the first four groups competing by way of prepared speeches and the final group engaging in a stimulating discussion focused on a yearly chosen topic. The competition aims to ensure that the next generation of Sikh leaders remains firmly connected to the basic principles of its religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
.
Format
The competition is divided into five age groups: Group I (6-8 years old), Group II (9-10 years old), Group III (11-13 years old), Group IV (14-17 years old, and Group V (16-22 years old). Each age group is assigned a different book on the Sikh religion each year by a committee of regional and international conveners. This committee also generates a list of three questions for each age group that are to be answered in the participants' speeches. The answers to these questions can be found, in large part, in the book assigned; however, some reflection and critical thinking by the participants is necessary in answering the questions, as well.The local level of the competition is usually held within a gurdwara
Gurdwara
A Gurdwara , meaning the Gateway to the Guru, is the place of worship for Sikhs, the followers of Sikhism. A Gurdwara can be identified from a distance by tall flagpoles bearing the Nishan Sahib ....
. The winners in each group of the competition advance to the regional level, which usually involves four to five gurdwaras in close geographical proximity. The winners in each group of this competition advance to the international level, which is hosted in a different city across the United States of America and Canada every year.
At the local, regional, and international level for groups I - IV, the competition is held in the form of a prepared speech
Speech
Speech is the human faculty of speaking.It may also refer to:* Public speaking, the process of speaking to a group of people* Manner of articulation, how the body parts involved in making speech are manipulated...
. Group I's allotted time is 5 minutes, Group II's allotted time is 6 minutes, Group III's allotted time is 6 minutes, and Group IV's allotted time is 7 minutes. A panel of three judges assesses the speeches, weighing 60% of a participant's score on his/her content (answering the questions) and the remaining 40% on the participant's presentation (style and delivery, eye contact, voice and diction, language, and overall effectiveness). For Group V, the local and regional competition is usually a prepared speech, graded in the same manner as groups I-IV. However, the international competition for Group V is a debate between the winners from each region. The debate consists of four phases--opening statements, questions from the moderator
Moderator
Moderator often refers to the chairman of a meeting. Specifically, it may refer to:-Government:*Moderator , elected official who presides over the Town Meeting form of government-Internet:...
, closing statements, and questions from the sangat
Sangat (term)
Sangat is a Sikh term with its origin in the Sanskrit word 'sangh', which means company, fellowship and association. In Sikh vocabulary, the word has a special connotation. It stands for the body of men and women who meet religiously, especially in the presence of the Guru Granth Sahib...
--and typically lasts three hours.
Whereas the local and regional competition are completed in a day in April/May, the international competition spans the entire first weekend of August. Finalists and their families arrive in the host city on a Thursday, checking in that evening and receiving their informational packets for the weekend. Also on Thursday evening, the regional and international conveners meet to decide on the books and international host city for the next year. On Friday morning, the competition for Group I, Group II, and Group III is typically held before langar and Group IV's competition is held after langar. On Friday evening, participants and their families enjoy a social activity, ranging from a tour of the city and it's notable landmarks to a fun activity, such as bowling or attending a rodeo.
2009
Group I: Supreme Sacrifice of Young Souls - The Martyrdom of the Younger Sahibzadas by Professor Jagdish SinghGroup II: Sikhism by Sikh Missionary College, Ludhiana
Group III: Teaching Sikh Heritage to the Youth - Lessons Learnt Vol. 2 by Dr. Gurbakhsh Singh
Group IV: Sundri by Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singh
Bhai Vir Singh
Vir Singh was a poet, scholar and theologian and a figure in the movement for the revival and renewal of Punjabi literary tradition....
Group V: When a Tree Shook Delhi - The 1984 Carnage and its Aftermath by Mr. Manoj Mitta and Harvinder Singh Phoolka
H. S. Phoolka
Harvinder Singh Phoolka, commonly known as H. S. Phoolka, is a senior advocate of Delhi High Court, Human Rights activist, and author. He is known for spearheading one of the longest and most tortuous legal "crusades" to gain justice for the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots and fighting individual...
2011
Group I: Basic Knowledge of Sikhism by Sikh Missionary College, LudhianaGroup II: The Sikh Sakhis by Dr. Gurbakhsh Singh
Group III: Banda Singh Bahadur by Sikh Missionary College, Ludhiana
Group IV: The Message of Gurbani by Sikh Missionary College, Ludhiana
Group V: Shabad Guru and False Gurudom by Sikh Missionary College, Ludhiana
2010
Group I: First Place - Mehr Kaur (IL/MO), Second Place - Simran Kaur (Georgia), Third Place - Simran Preet Kaur (Khalsa School)Group II: First Place - Jaslina Kaur (Seattle, Washington), Second Place - Harchint Singh (Midwest), Third Place - Gurjit Kaur (Khalsa School)
Group III: First Place - Arjan Singh (Niagara Falls), Second Place - Manun Singh (Dallas, Texas), Third Place - Sehaj Singh (Georgia)
Group IV: First Place - Jasmeet Kaur (Toronto, Ontario), Second Place - Tejasvir Singh (Georgia), Third Place - Gurpartap Singh (Seattle, Washington)
Group V: First Place - Jaywin Singh (Dallas, Texas), Second Place - Jaskirat Kaur (Boston, Massachusetts), Third Place - Satprit Kaur (Seattle Washington)