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Sponsor Us

We would like to thank the following sponsors for their kind donations:

Sponsors

If you or your organization would like to support this wonderful event, please contact the Forum Coordinator, Veronika Vlckova via email or + 31 (0) 20 692 72 99.
If you need a little more persuasion, please kindly read the following paragraphs or download the attached presentation.

What is IDEA?

International Debate Education Association (IDEA) is a non-for profit international organization working with young people and for young people. IDEA’s mission it to educate future generations of responsible citizens globally by promoting discussion, youth leadership and participation locally. IDEA promotes youth debate - a method of participation that involves teams of young people learning about important global or local issues and debating them in a friendly manner. Educational debate is a contest of reason in which two teams debate on a chosen topic, with one team presenting arguments for the topic and the other team arguing against the topic. The debate is watched by a panel of judges who listen to the arguments presented by both sides and award victory to one of the teams based on quality of argumentation and presentation skills.

IDEA promotes international debates on the issues such as: environment, globalization, international peace and security, the rights of the child, etc. IDEA has introduced youth debate programs to over 40 countries (from Albania to Zimbabwe) and it cooperates with many youth organizations in the world. Through debate, a flexible learning tool, IDEA and its partners are assisting young people in developing their skills and knowledge and becoming leaders in their schools, communities and eventually in their workplaces. IDEA organizes international events for young people (meetings, exchanges, trainings, etc.), develops curricula and training materials and assists in development of innovative youth projects in many different countries.

What is International Youth Forum?

International Youth Forum is the largest and most important single event organized by IDEA. The Forum is organized in a different country each year and since its first edition in 1995 it has provided unforgettable educational experience to over 2,000 secondary school students from over 40 countries. Each year IDEA partners with a national debate organization in a Forum host country (following a competitive bidding process) and both organizations prepare for the event, focusing on programmatic and logistical aspects as well as promotion and fundraising. Each Forum lasts on average 2 weeks and includes the following components:

  • Debate Tournament of Nations: at the beginning of the Forum students compete in a 4-day debate tournament on selected topics. They debate as national teams of three students each, participating in preliminary and elimination rounds. During the tournament, each team has an opportunity to debate for and against a given topic. The best two teams meet in the Grand Final Round that is displayed in a prominent location (e.g. House of Parliament of a host country) and open to the public and the media.

  • “Mixed” teams debates: after the Tournament of Nations, organizers divide student debaters into international (or “mixed”) teams, assuring the greatest national and linguistic diversity of each team. Working together with an international team of debate coaches and trainers, the teams prepare for debates on a new set of topics. As part of the preparation process, they attend various sessions as well as work individually with their coaches and trainers. The emphasis here is on international cooperation and learning rather than competition. Following the preparation phase, international teams enter International Debate Tournament that is very much similar to the Tournament of Nations – the only difference being that debating teams do not represent their nations.

  • Intercultural activities: the Forum provides a truly unique opportunity for intercultural learning. Students, coaches and trainers participate in various activities such as: country exhibitions and shows, cultural evenings as well as interact with each other in informal setting - taking advantage of the possibility to meet young people from over 40 countries. In addition, the host organization arranges for cultural visits to famous sites, providing an opportunity for all participants to learn about the host country’s tradition, history and culture.

Why the Forum?

All evaluations of the previous Forums have demonstrated that it is a most valuable personal experience for all the participants. There is more however to the Forum than the quality of personal experience. International Youth Forum impacts not only individuals but also organizations and indirectly communities in which the participants live. The Forum allows to reach the following objectives:

At individual level:

  • Participants develop invaluable skills- critical thinking, research, communication and public speaking. Many of the previous Forums participants have excelled in their educational and professional careers. They are leaders of organizations and companies!

  • Participants become open to international communication – they establish friendships and links of communication which result in future international projects and better networking;

  • Participants develop incentives to give back to their communities- peers, schools, neighborhoods and youth organizations. Enriched with international experience, they translate it into action in their local communities.

    • At organizational level:

  • The Forum provides a unique opportunity to promote communication, debate and youth engagement in the Forum host country. Both IDEA and the local host organization make all the efforts to involve media and public figures in promoting the Forum- two of the previous Forums have been endorsed by Nobel Prize Laureate Lech Walesa and Czech President Vaclav Havel;

  • The Forum provides unique exposure opportunities for the host organization, IDEA and all partners that cooperate together to make each Forum a success;

  • Many of the Forum participants assume important roles in their youth organizations, communities and work places. The current Forum Director is a previous Forum participant (Poland, 2000);

    • How is the Forum implemented?

    Due to ambitious educational components and the sheer number of participants from so many countries each Forum takes a lot of effort and preparation. The work is divided into stages:

    Preparation:

    here IDEA and the host organization work together to promote the Forum internationally and nationally in the host country. The main medium of promotion is internet as well as personal contacts and media. IDEA selects an experienced international pool of trainers who work together with the Forum Director to develop relevant curriculum for the event;

    Building support for the Forum:

    both IDEA and the local host, fundraise for the Forum to make this opportunity available to youth from all over the world – despite their economic status;

    Selection of participants

    IDEA works together with debate and youth organizations worldwide to select participants for the Forum. National debate programs select participants based on their debating skills, merit and involvement in youth debate programs in their communities.

    The Forum itself:

    two weeks of the Forum are labor intensive: debaters, coaches, trainers and volunteers work tirelessly to make each Forum a success.

    Follow-up

    IDEA and its partners maintain contacts with the participants through online communication tolls (IDEA website) and assist them in implementation of local youth projects.

    How can you help?

    IDEA International Youth Forum is a non-for –profit event. We actively pursue funding opportunities to provide this unique opportunity to young people all over the world and make sure that all the funds are spent most efficiently and in accordance with international non-for-profit standards and regulations. We offer opportunities for donor organizations and corporate funders to contribute to educating the future generations of global and local leaders.

    If you would like to support the Forum please contact the Forum Coordinator, Veronika Vlckova via email or phone at + 31 (0) 20 692 72 99.