IDEA: International Debate Education Association - Debate Resources & Debate Tools

About IDEA: Programs and Events

IDEA implements a range of programs to promote active citizenship globally, those programs include:

	Dialogue through Debate Project The project aims at facilitating the exchange of good practice and experience in promotion of youth debate programs between four youth organizations from Lithuania, Netherlands, Rwanda and Uganda. Specifically, the project focuses on knowledge and methodology transfer with an emphasis on spearheading independent youth debate programs in Rwanda and Uganda. During the project, 3 study visits were organized. The visit to the Netherlands focused on establishing contacts with different funders and youth organizations working in the field of youth empowerment, as well as featured workshops on fundraising and administrative work of youth NGOs (the workshops were conducted by IDEA staff). The study visit to Lithuania focused on exchanging training experience. During this visit, the trainers from Rwanda and Uganda attended the Lithuanian national debate camp and workshops on forum organization and trainings (conducted by IDEA staff). During the visit to Czech Republic, trainers from Rwanda and Uganda had a chance to participate in the International Youth Forum's capacity building track. The last stage of the project is the organization of the Regional African Youth Forum, which will take place in December in Uganda. IDEA Director of Training and Forum Coordinator are traveling to Uganda to assist with the preparation and implementation of the Forum.
	Rotterdam Debate in the Neighbourhood The Rotterdam Debate in the Neighbourhood pilot project is an initiative of IDEA in cooperation with the debatecentre Arminius in Rotterdam. The project is aims to teach young people (aged 14-17) with a vocational level of education debate skills. The project consists of different phases, whereby the first step is training of trainers: teachers, students of the college and youth workers are trained as debatementors. These debatementors will, together with a few youngsters of the targetgroup (the trainees), train young people in the classroom and the neighbourhood. These youngsters will assist with organizing public debates in their own neighbourhood, about problems in their community, and bridge the gap between different groups.
	European Youth Speak European Youth Speak project was implemented together with IDEA members in Estonia, Latvia, Czech Republic, Slovakia and the Human Rights Education Associates organization in the Netherlands. The project enabled the debaters from IDEA members participate in different forms of discussion on EU issues of importance to the young people in Europe. HREA created the online course on human rights and advocacy issues. The project ended in an international youth conference, which became the annual IDEA Model European Youth Parliament. The event hosted over 80 students (senior high school students and junior university level students) from 10 different countries. During the event, IDEA also collected opinion polls on EU issues which were later published on EYS website. The EYS Parliament allowed us to establish valuable contacts with other youth organizations in the Netherlands, as well as the University of Amsterdam. The EYS Parliament will become IDEA's annual event.
	War Child Holland Project IDEA was approached by the War Child organization to participate in the training entitled "Children's Parliament". IDEA's Forum Coordinator will conduct a training in Lira in the end of November. The goal of the project is to introduce creative means for improving access and retention in education in Lira District. A follow up training is planned for March. This cooperation allows IDEA to increase its visibility in the African region and start implementing the incentive for regional forums.
	IDEA Exchange IDEA Exchange is a conference that features workshops and presentations about NGO management, debate, and communication. IDEA Exchange has enabled IDEA to strengthen their partnership with the academic community in Europe. Although the academic presence in the Exchange is low this year, it does serve as a good chance for IDEA members to meet and exchange ideas on debate methodology improvement as well as program development internationally.
	IDEA International Youth Forum The IDEA Youth Forum is IDEA's premier event. The event happens annually and is hosted by an IDEA member country association. The Youth Forum brings together youth from over thirty countries for debate, discussion, and intercultural activities. The Youth Forum consists of a "mixed teams" Karl Popper debate tournament wherein students from different countries are placed together on a three-person team with a coach to debate other mixed teams on a resolution related to a theme. Students also can compete in the Karl Popper Debate Championship, which allows teams from different countries to train and compete against one another in Karl Popper debate. During times when students aren't debating, they participate in training sessions with IDEA Trainers and coaches to learn more about the topics they are discussing and learn ways they can approach topics thoughtfully and critically. IDEA Youth Forum presents an ideal environment for students throughout the world to meet, discuss, problem solve, and learn about other regions and cultures. The IDEA Youth Forum takes place from July 23rd-August 5th annually.
	Serbian Youth Debate Human Rights Project IDEA, Willamette University, and the Association for Creative Communication and Debate (ACCD) in Serbia present the Serbian Youth Debate Human Rights Project, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. The aim of the Serbian Youth Debate Human Rights Project (SYDHR) is to develop a better understanding of human rights, democratic processes and sense of civic responsibility and commitment to peaceful community development among youth in Serbia. The Serbian Youth Debate Human Rights Project is an innovative human rights based deliberative education program that engages students in research, critical analysis, preparation for a series of public debates, debate tournaments and debate youth forums where students participate in a friendly exchange of ideas about human rights issues. SYDHR will help youth to develop critical thinking skills and to become articulate in their expression of their thoughts and ideas. Further, project activities will help Serbian youth develop meaningful relationships based upon mutual respect and intellectual achievement with youth diverse ethnic, religious and national backgrounds.
	IDEA Debate and Citizen Journalism Institute The annual IDEA Institute is a three-week event in July that brings together students, teachers, and coaches from over twenty countries for classes and activities related to debate, advocacy, journalism, and media. The Institute is co-sponsored by Bloomfield College's Creative Arts and Technology Program at Bloomfield College in New Jersey and is endorsed by the National Forensic League debate honor society in the U.S. Participants who complete the Institute receive 6 college credits from Bloomfield College. The Institute combines coursework, dialogue, educational excursions, and extracurricular activities for an incredible intercultural exchange for everyone involved. Participants who enroll in the Institute can choose their "track" for courses. Tracks include Beginning Debate, Advanced Debate, English as a Foreign Language, Coaching Debate, and Citizen Journalism. As part of the debate tracks, IDEA offers British Parliamentary debate, World Schools debate, and Lincoln Douglas debate emphases. Instructors for the Institute include experienced debate coaches, university professors, and international trainers. There is a fee to attend the Institute, but IDEA offers both full and partial scholarships for participants. The Institute is sponsored by OSI.
	The People Speak Global Debates The People Speak (TPS) is an initiative of the United Nations Foundation. The UNF partners with IDEA to help students throughout the world hold debate events that help to raise public awareness about environmental and human rights issues. As part of the TPS Global Debates, students participate in a variety of activities in addition to their debate, including writing blogs and editorials, creating public service announcements, and meeting with community and governmental leaders. Students complete as many activities as possible in order to win a trip to the UNF Global Youth Summit, which happens at the United Nations in New York during the summer. For TPS 2007/2008, IDEA recruited student participants from 51 countries with the help of debate associations in IDEA countries. For more information about TPS, please visit the website.
	IDEA Regional Trainings and Tournaments IDEA sponsors many debate trainings and tournaments annually in over forty countries, including China, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Uganda, Rwanda, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Ukraine, Russia, and Turkmenistan. IDEA trainings can range from teacher trainings that focus on equipping teachers to take debate and dialogue into their schools to strategic discussions with students that emphasize the importance of active citizenship and democratic participation. IDEA's small tournaments often attempt to bring students from different regions together for healthy discussion about a variety of issues. Information about IDEA's trainings and small tournaments can most easily be found in our IDebate Magazine.
	IDEA International Tournament of Champions for Parliamentary Debate The IDEA ITOC is for high school students who want to sharpen their parliamentary debate skills while interacting with students from other states and countries. This event happens at Willamette University each May and has attracted high school students from the U.S., Kazakhstan, Canada, Korea, and the Philippines. In addition to the debate tournament where students have the opportunity to dialogue about a variety of global issues, IDEA offers a parliamentary debate workshop to help debaters prepare for interaction and discussion in a parliamentary debate style. More information about this event can also be found on the IDEA Events Page.
	IDEA National Junior Forensic League National Tournament The annual NJFL National Tournament is a debate tournament within the U.S. that aims to give middle school students throughout the country a chance to debate their peers. As middle school debate is not as established as high school debate in the U.S., this event gives the opportunity for middle school debaters to meet and compete with other enthusiasts their age. The event is co-sponsored by the National Forensic League in the U.S. and happens every June. The location changes annually. Information about this event can be found on the IDEA Events page.
	THE IDEA-NFL Guest Qualifier Tournament Series IDEA has partnered with the National Forensic League to facilitate the IDEA-NFL Guest Qualifier Series. These tournaments give international students a unique opportunity to qualify for the prestigious NFL National Tournament held each summer. Thus far, IDEA and the NFL have held such tournaments in South Korea and Singapore. The tournaments give high school students a chance to not only debate, but also participate in a variety of individual and team public speaking events, including literary interpretation, extemporaneous speaking and oratory.