I Will Make the World Better:

The Pan African Speech And Debate League

Director Statement

The Pan African Speech and Debate League was something I had wanted to be a part of since my first year on the Bozeman High speech and debate team. When I finally got the chance to go on this trip it was with the goal of teaching public forum debate but from the very beginning I knew I wanted to make this documentary in the hope that this film would spread the word about this amazing program. I was very excited about making this short but my main job in Arusha was, of course teaching, Tanzanian students how to build arguments, helping them prepare for rounds, and eventually judging at the tournament. Somewhere in between learning about and coaching these kids I was pulling out a camera and trying to capture what unfolded around me. It was a pretty great way to make a documentary, and I think it was also the best possible way to experience the story I was trying to tell. A moment that perfectly encapsulated this came during the tournament; my teammate and I were all judging rounds until my coach, Mr. Thane, told me, “Take a round off and go film.” I set up my camera and began moving around the tournament filming the students debating. After spending weeks teaching and coaching these kids, it was so incredibly fulfilling to finally see everything come together. I was not just filming students giving speeches anymore; these were students I had coached, watched improve, and genuinely wanted to see succeed. These kids had grown into some of the best debaters I had ever seen. In fact, when I asked my teammate, Solomon, who is one of the best debaters I know, how the round he judged went he said, “That is without a doubt the best Public Forum round I have ever seen in my entire life.”
Joseph, a Tanzanian student, especially became a huge part of my experience. Before the trip, I knew I wanted to meet someone whose story could become an important part of the documentary, and Joseph pretty quickly became that person without either of us really planning it. He is so unbelievably kind, ambitious, hilarious, and just has a huge heart. His sincerity and his work ethic wove together eloquently. While we were teaching everyone how to finish their case, Joseph had already rewritten his case three times. He helped me with the movie, supported me throughout the trip, and became somebody I was always excited to be around. In fact, he was supportive even after I had left, asking for updates on the movie and telling me how much he loved each draft.
On our last day before we left, I sat down and interviewed Joseph one final time. We had spent so much time together that it did not really feel like a formal interview anymore. His emotions were completely real and raw, and that moment became one of the most important parts of the entire trip for me. Joseph is now working his ass off trying to apply to colleges in the United States, and knowing how driven he is makes me incredibly excited to see where he ends up.
I originally traveled to Tanzania thinking my main contribution would be teaching these students about debate. That definitely happened, but I also came home realizing how much I had learned from them. I learned from their ambition, their kindness, their humor, and the ridiculous amount of energy they brought into everything they did. That is the power of The Pan African Speech and Debate League.