USA Youth Debates Visiting Tunisia
A delegation of American university students sponsored by the non-profit organization USA Youth Debates will meet students from three Tunisian schools from March 21-27 to introduce debate as an “academic sport.” The American students, aged 19-24, will visit the Lycée Pierre Mendès France, the Mediterranean School of Business, and the Tunis Business School to discuss how debating can help promote self-confidence in public speaking, support freedom of expression, and encourage civic participation.
In addition, the students will team up with Tunisian partners to debate the impact of the Tunisian revolution on the world, prospects for economic growth and development, and the importance of youth activism. For each debate, one American university student will team with three Tunisian partners, and competing teams will debate topics in Arabic and English. Judges will score each team’s performance and declare a winner at the end of the debate.
The U.S. Embassy in Tunisia is organizing this program in cooperation with USA Youth Debates, a non-profit organization with extensive experience in the United States and overseas. “We’re excited to be invited,” said USA Youth Debates Director John Tredway, “and I can’t think of a better place than Tunisia to learn about how young people charted a new course for their country’s future.”
Before departing for Tunisia, the group will meet with Tunisian Ambassador to the United States Mohamed Salah Tekaya to discuss the program and its objectives. While in Tunisia, the group will also meet with bloggers, civil society activists, and government representatives to learn more about the country and its ongoing democratic transition. For more information about USA Youth Debates, visit http://www.usayouthdebates.org/.
Video: March 22, 2012: John S. Tredway on USA Youth Debates and MSB