A public speaking competition under the aegis of Sikh Youth Alliance of North America is held every year for last 23 years now
Our Bureau
Cincinnati, Ohio
Youth between the ages of 6 and 20 years from Cincinnati and neighboring Dayton, participated in the local level edition of the annual Sikh Youth Symposium 2023, a public speaking competition under the aegis of Sikh Youth Alliance of North America (SYANA). It was organized at Guru Nanak Society of Greater Cincinnati Gurdwara Sahib in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Since the year 2000, every year in the month of March-April, these competitions are conducted in different cities of USA and Canada, then at the State level followed by the final International Symposium in the first week of August.
They participated in 5 separate age groups. Sameep Singh Gumtala, the local convener for the Symposium said that the participating youth are given a book 3 months in advance and the participants have to answer the 3 questions given to them in the form of a speech for 5-7 minutes.
This year first group was given the book, ‘Basic knowledge of Sikhism’, second ‘Sikh Sakhis for the Youth’, third ‘The Turban’, and the fourth ‘Guru Granth Sahib – A Supreme Treasure’. The program started with the recital of Ardas and Hukumnama. Symposium provides youth with a platform to learn and reflect on many topics, starting from the basics of Sikhi to an in-depth study of Gurbani.
It encourages youth to reconnect with the foundations and roots of Sikh faith. The objective is to provide an environment where Sikh youth can develop public speaking, oral and written communication skills. Sikh youth can learn the skills of public speaking along with delving into Sikh history and philosophy. All the participating youth were awarded trophies and books including “Fauja Singh Keeps Going”, “The Garden of Peace”, Why Am I Here”. The winner from each group will participate in the State level symposium with winners from other cities in Ohio and Pennsylvania
