Call to young Europeans:
learn and develop how to Debate Your Issue
Every democracy needs citizens who ask critical questions, ...
who are not afraid to express their views, but also know how to listen to the opinions of others and how to respond to them in a matter-of-fact and fair way.
Despite many differences between European countries, young people in Europe share substantial similarities concerning their worldview, experiences, fears and problems. A highly common issue is the fact that young Europeans' trust in mainstream media and public institutions at all levels is low. Youth in Europe distinguishes itself by a limited interest in politics, media literacy (exposure to fake news, hate speech) and political education. The voting turnout of young people is the lowest among all age categories. Young Europeans cope with a significantly higher level of unemployment than the countries’ average, and due to the negative impact of pandemic it will most probably increase.
The aim of the project Debate Your Issue (DYI) is to strengthen the awareness of young Europeans ...
(18-25 years old) on the topics of politics, democracy, tolerance and their threats: disinformation, intolerance, polarization and hate speech. Debate can teach young people how to stand up for their opinions and views in a well-founded and convincing manner. Furthermore, by dealing with relevant socio-political questions in a critical manner, it contributes to political education in the targeted region.
The project activities include ...
debate training programs and competitions, adaptations of a methodological approach, joint publications, providing open and effective tools for counterbalancing the rising polarization and disengagement of young people in six European countries (Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Serbia, Poland and Belgium).
During the project the young people will access knowledge of relevant socio-political issues, and acquire skills of the art of debate. In the second part of the project they will take part in a debate competition, in order to compete with their peers from other countries.
Young people in all six project countries are invited to apply for debate training and active participation in the project activities. The training will take place both in person and online, the project is developing recommendations for debate trainers, webinars for online observation, as well as infographics that will help many other young people to learn aspects of media literacy.
The project includes 6 partners based in 6 countries, ...
five belonging to the EU, one based in a candidate country, ensuring a broad coverage of the EU territory (Belgium for West, Lithuania and Latvia for North-East, Czech Republic and Poland for Centre, Serbia for South). The project will be based on a wide range of expertise:
1
Goethe-Institut promotes knowledge of culture and languages abroad, but also fosters international cooperation. The objectives of the project help to reach the goals of the Institut, by bringing together young people and providing them with tools and skills for engaging in society and articulating their opinions effectively.
2
The International Youth Debate Alumni Association Lithuania was founded by the Alumni of the competition “Jugend debattiert international”, from which this proposal builds upon. They organize different seminars and workshops in which young people are given the chance to voice their opinions and ask critical questions.
3
The National Library of Latvia is a multifunctional culture and educational centre, research and cultural heritage institution. It works as a hub for all libraries in Latvia and organizes media literacy courses for working librarians of the whole country.
4
Novo kulturno naselje (Serbia) has been working for years on developing and implementing cultural content in Novi Sad. The project is perfectly in line with its goals, namely to promote youth culture and to raise youth awareness and respect for fundamental human rights and freedom.
5
The College of Eastern Europe (Poland) will take the project as a further occasion to stimulate Polish citizens to adhere to EU values by informing and shaping public debate about Central and Eastern Europe in Poland (Nowa Europa Wschodnia magazine) & across the world (New Eastern Europe magazine).
6
Mediawijs (Belgium) is a knowledge centre for digital and media literacy aiming to help citizens to use media and technology consciously, critically and creatively. Developing and providing material and trainings for youth workers or schools, they act as a strong multiplier of the project.
Young people in six countries ...
are participating in an international debate project Debate Your Issue, supported by the programme Erasmus+. The art and skills of debating taught online, while the project also is recommendations and instructions for debate trainers, as well as webinars infographics and experience stories that will help many other young people to learn aspects of media literacy.
Representatives of media and educational organizations are invited to use the informational and audiovisual materials of the project, provided by this homepage, for covering the project and topics related to debating, media literacy, youth projects. Reference to the project is mandatory.
Additional information and media inquiries: info@debateyourissue.eu
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