Today's youth navigate unique challenges as they strive to find their place in the world—and better it along the way. Rising barriers such as inequality, prejudice, and misinformation make it more challenging than ever for young leaders to learn the skills to change the world and the empathy to do so responsibly.

Debate education has long been an invaluable tool for empowering students to tackle the demands of the moment. Prominent leaders in government, business, academia, activism, and elsewhere credit debate with providing the critical thinking skills and confidence that enabled them to leave their marks.

Yet finding spaces to foster debate can be challenging. Limited resources restrict access, and isolated geographic bubbles hinder the remaining learning opportunities as debaters mostly encounter peers with similar backgrounds and experiences. Young, aspiring leaders need safe spaces to grow as individuals while learning from communities who might think, act, and look different.

Debate Spaces provides such a space. Our programs make high-quality debate education accessible to more people in more places than ever. Hundreds of students from across the U.S. and around the world learn vital skills and tackle real-world issues as they form global communities. Students find common ground while celebrating differences, helping them navigate their way toward changing the world.

Due to our commitment to making debate accessible to all, we rely on your support to make these powerful debate spaces possible. Debate Spaces is poised to extend our impact to more communities, and we hope you join us to further our mission of using debate to foster civic engagement and connect students from around the world.

Voices Heard 'Round the World

Empowering young people through cross-cultural debate