Combiwel organises successful Debate@Europe public debates

High school students from Amsterdam’s Diamantbuurt district participated in two public debates combining video and debate. Both public debates took place at Combiwel, a social welfare organisation. The Diamantbuurt experienced racial tensions and a number of riots in the previous year. The first debate focused on the theme of reconciliation and took place on April 27th. Thirty people participated in it.The second debate took place on the 5th of May, Liberation Day in the Netherlands when the end of WWII is celebrated. The debate focused on highly relevant themes such as freedom, security and police discrimination. Forty people participated in the debate, including to district council members. Neighbourhood youth had prepared a video discussing the central theme for the second debate that was very well received.The participating youth had prepared for the public debates in a training organised by Combiwel and supported by IDEA Amsterdam. They learned how to debate and think up motions, as well as how to use a video camera and edits stories for the video. Twelve high school pupils had helped Combiwel’s coordinator Linda Ruiter with preparations. They filmed and edited the video, prepared and distributed flyers promoting the event, and chose the motions for the debates.All participants and the audience were impressed by the work put into the project. The videos in particular were a great addition to the debate. For more information on this event and our programmes in the Netherlands contact IDEA Amsterdam's Anne Valkering 

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