OSCE Mission to Moldova supports youth engagement through public debates

On 8 September 2016, the OSCE Mission to Moldova organized the first in a series of public debates for young people aimed at encouraging the establishment of debate clubs in schools throughout Moldova. Some 50 high school students and teachers participated in or observed the debate, which took place in a school in Avdarma – a village in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia.

Two debate teams of students from Comrat and Ceadîr-Lunga were invited to discuss the right and obligation of national minorities to study their native language and culture, while exploring the collective cultural and economic benefits of multilingual and multi-ethnic societies. The purpose of the public debate was to familiarize students and teachers with the Karl Popper debate format as a means of developing critical thinking among young people, as well as to encourage the establishment of a similar debate club in the Avdarma school.

"Today's discussion was very useful, and now I feel more confident in my ability to express my thoughts, raise concerns and defend my position," said Ivan Marinov, a student at Avdarma school. "Debating teaches young people how to be more pro-active and I look forward to participating in a debate club in our school."

The event was held as part of a project that aims to actively engage young people, including those representing national minorities, in civic processes at the local and national levels by developing their debating skills. The project is implemented jointly by the OSCE Mission to Moldova and the Comrat-based NGO Piligrim-Demo and consists of debate training, debate tournaments and public debates. One more public debate will be organized in 2016 in Bălți, a town in northern Moldova.