Thursday, July 13, 2006

Networking in Conflict Resolution and Democracy

Featuring:CONFLICT RESOLUTION AND DEMOCRACY DATABASE

There are inherent linkages among the processes of conflict resolution, peace building, and democracy building. Participants in the World Movement have discussed many of these connections during workshops at World Movement assemblies in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2000, and in Durban, South Africa, in 2004. Some connections between conflict resolution, peace-building, and democracy that were identified at the assemblies include:
Democratic structures and institutions help maintain peace by providing mechanisms for managing or resolving conflicts without resort to violence.
The democratic culture of plurality and participation is vital to the process of conflict resolution, and conversely conflict resolution fosters greater participation and inclusiveness and therefore contributes to the culture of democracy.
The elements of conflict resolution and peace building, such as mediation, negotiation, dialogue, confidence building, and reconciliation, are vital for successful transitions to democracy.
Conflict resolution skills, such as listening, building trust and consensus among antagonistic groups, and identifying causes of conflict, are crucial for democratic leadership.
Although these linkages have been discussed at various meetings and conferences and in academic literature, there is a lack of in-depth understanding of such interconnections and their practical implications for peace and democracy. For example, one Assembly workshop in South Africa suggested that “it is a duty of all democrats to work for a peaceful solution to conflict”; however, it is still a challenge for democrats to understand how their democracy-promotion activities, such as human rights advocacy, can contribute to the peace-building process generally. Such understanding can be deepened and enhanced through exchanges among activists, practitioners, and scholars.
The purpose of this Web site is to facilitate such exchange and to help form a community of conflict resolution and democracy practitioners. This community will strive to:
Cultivate a deeper understanding of linkages between conflict resolution, peace building, and democracy, and
Assist organizations working in the fields of democracy promotion and conflict resolution to design cohesive strategies and approaches to democracy and peace building.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

2ND International Workshop on Debate Education, Calabar-Nigeria 2006!!

The international Debate Education Association, which is headquartered in New York United States in Collaboration with Debate And Development Resource Center Nigeria, which coordinates Nigeria Debate Movement, a network of Debate societies across Nigeria is pleased to invite you to a six day workshop on debate education.
Teachers, Public Advocates, Debate coaches, Radio and Television presenters across the country have been invited to attend as delegates.
The first training which was held in Lagos in 2005 attracted teachers and youth workers across the federation. This second training is a follow up to last year training which was not a Training of Trainers workshop.
The workshop will focus on three important areas, which includes; debate across curriculum, competitive debate designed for schools and debate clubs and public debates which is primarily for Radio and Television presenters.
Aim of the workshop
To build the capacity of Nigerians on Debating and adjudication skills. And also learn new methods in integrating debating into teaching techniques by schools.
The workshop course modules are attached with this letter so as to enable you know the area you can benefit effectively



Other guidelines and criteria
*The selection of participants should reflect regional/gender balance.
*The delegate should have written support of their school/organization.
*Only teachers representing Secondary schools situated outside Calabar are eligible to apply for scholarship.
*Debate clubs/Debate coaches outside Calabar are expected to enjoy free participation.
*Participation is free and open to the selected delegates.
*Learning materials/Debate resource books are to be provided to all the schools/participants.
*Your School/Debate club will automatically become a training partner and will be certified in due course.
*Partcipating schools will have the access to participate in IDEA programs worldwide.
*Participating Schools/organization will sign a memorandum of understanding with Dederc for debate sustainability in their various schools/organizations.
Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to be familiar with the various workshop topics before completing the survey, as participants will be lectured based on the report of the survey. For participation, please contact info@debatenigeria.kabissa.org or +234-8036720776

Facilitators
Noel Selegzi (Guest Lecturer) has coached debate at Hunter College High School in New York City for fifteen years. His teams have won numerous tournament championships. In addition, he is the Executive Director of the International Debate Education Association. A student of social and political philosophy, he specializes in the history of political thought, ranging from Ancient Greek philosophy to contemporary political theory.

Marcin Zaleski obtained his International Baccalaureate at the United World College in Duino, Italy. In 1995 he became the coordinator of the Polish debate program, and also wrote a book about debate. As a consultant for the Open Society Institute, he conducted trainings throughout
Central and Eastern Europe. In 1999 Marcin was elected the President of the Board of Directors of the International Debate Education Association, and continues to work as a debate trainer, curriculum developer and a fundraiser for the program. Marcin speaks Polish, English, and Italian and Russian.
Selected participants will be informed about the confirmation of their registration via email/telephone. Further details including venue, programmes will be furnished upon confirmation.
We are delighted to welcome you to the first ever workshop on debate education in Nigeria and we hope you will assist us in bringing debating back to life once again.

Saturday, January 28, 2006

DEDERC Needs Collaboration on Civic Education in Nigeria

Debate And Development Resource Centre- Nigeria, the first youth led NGO working to create open youth society in Nigeria is searching for collaboration in the following areas; Civic Education; Civil Society Strengthening; Conflict Resolution, Political Parties and Political Leadership. Since Nigeria is matching towards another year of election. We need to mobilize, sensitize young people for an active participation come 2007.
Contact us on jenwigwe@debatenigeria.kabissa.org

Thursday, January 26, 2006

IDEA Youth Forum 2006

July, 23 2006 - August 5, 2006
The 2006 IDEA Summer Debate Forum will take place between July 23rd and August 5th in Romania.The participants at the Forum include secondary school students (aged 16 – 19) and their coaches and teachers from over thirty countries. Teams in the past have come from Central and Eastern Europe and Newly Independent states, Western Europe, North America, the Middle East, Great Britain, Asia, South America and Southern Africa. The official language of the Forum is English. The Forum will feature two debate tournaments: * The IDEA Karl Popper Debate World Tournament Championship, on the resolution “Resolved: that a policy should be adopted to promote global compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.”* A tournament of mixed-nationality teams, on the resolution “Resolved: that the world's fresh water should be considered common property.”During the Forum, participants will take part in sessions on debate methodologies as well as sessions on the topics related to the resolutions. A group of international debate trainers will facilitate all educational activities.Registration will be opened later in the year. If you would like to reserve a spot now, please fill out the rsvp link on the left hand side of this page. FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN APPLYING TO BE TRAINERS: Please see the below instructions. All prospective trainers are requested to submit an application form by email or apply online at http://oas.idebate.org/idea by October 1st, 2005. Youth Forum Discussion Board


Location
Romania - exact location will be posted soon


Event Documents
Call For Trainers - Please read these instructions if you are interested in applying to be a trainer at the 2006 IDEA Youth Forum.

Paper Application - We prefer you to use the online application however if you are unable to do so, you may use this and email your completed application in one word document to Jurate_Motiejunaite@yahoo.co.uk

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

idea profile

The International Debate Education Association (IDEA) develops, organizes and promotes debate and debate-related activities in communities throughout the world. Established in 1999 to coordinate pilot debate programs initiated by The Open Society Institute, IDEA acts as an independent membership organization of national debate clubs, associations, programs, and individuals who share a common purpose: to promote mutual understanding and democracy globally by supporting discussion and active citizenship locally.

Read more on www.idebate.org