National Youth Debate (NYD)

Empowering youth with critical thinking and public speaking skills through structured debate sessions on national and global issues.

Objectives:

• Enhance youth’s analytical and communication abilities.
• Promote civic engagement and awareness of societal issues.
• Build a culture of constructive dialogue and respectful discourse.

Duration of the Initiative:

• Annually (Ongoing since 2020).

Positive Impact:

• Engaged over 5,000 youth nationwide.
• Improved participants’ public speaking and reasoning skills.
• Strengthened youth awareness of social and political issues.

Target Group:

• High school students in the eleventh grade from public and private schools across 25 provinces in Cambodia.

Preparation Phase:

• Program vision: Develop a clear agenda reflecting national priorities and global issues such as sustainable development, digital transformation, and governance.
• Identifying partners: school rector, provincial officials, NGOs, debate clubs, and private sector sponsors to provide resources and expertise.
• Organizational committee structure: Establish teams for logistics, training, evaluation, and media relations.
• Timeline: Step-by-step plan covering registration, training sessions, preliminary rounds, and the final debate.
• Media plan: Use diverse channels such as social media, print media, and community outreach to maximize visibility and participation.
• Resources: Secure funding for venue rentals, participant materials, travel subsidies, and awards.
• Participant selection mechanism: Introduce an online application platform with detailed guidelines to ensure fairness and inclusivity.

Implementation Phase:

• Program registration: Launch a nationwide call for participants, targeting high schools.
• Managing the initiative: Provide intensive workshops on debate formats, critical thinking, and rebuttal strategies led by experienced trainers.
• Monitoring performance: Employ judges and mentors to track participant progress and provide constructive feedback.
• Documentation: Record key moments, participant testimonials, and judges’ observations for reports and promotional content.

Post-Initiative Phase:

• Evaluating the initiative: Conduct comprehensive assessments through participant surveys, stakeholder interviews, and post-event reviews.
• Preparing the final report: Compile a detailed report featuring outcomes, challenges, and future recommendations.
• Follow-up: Develop an alumni network, organize regular meetups, and provide mentorship opportunities for participants.