Donetsk Youth Debate Centre

Donetsk Youth Debate Centre is non-governmental, non-for profit, civil organisation. It was founded in 1997 under the initiative of school teachers, debate clubs trainers and young people of Donetsk and Lugansk regions. The grassroots of the organisation was the Debate program financed by International Renascence Foundation (Soros Foundation). Nowadays the area of the Organisation's activities is much wider but we still use debates as a method. At present the Organisation works as an informational and methodical centre for thousands pupils and students; teachers of different educational establishments, including universities; leaders of civic organizations and wide circle of young people of Eastern Ukraine. Our target groups are also journalists, state social workers, and local government officials. Debate Centre pays attention and makes efforts for strengthening of the third sector of Ukraine, thus take an active part in partnership development and coalition building. The organisation is the member of the Debate Clubs network, network of children and youth organization "New Wave" and in the reporting period we joined the Ukrainian National Network for Children.

The mission of organization is to promote the development of civil activity of youth in modern life by means of conduction of international social and educational programs.

Main directions of the activity:

·         Development of Civil Initiatives;

·         Public information on the issues of human rights and mechanisms of their protection;

·         Training methods of our own rights protection along with providing of relevant practical skills;

·         Methodological work and training courses development using variety of existing methods;

·         Lobbying and interest presentation of socially vulnerable groups (children, youth, women, imprisoned children, poor families with children) in the bodies of authorities and local self-management.

·         Promotion of Ukraine’s integration in the world society;

The main activities of the Debate Centre vary in accordance with the methods of the realization of the main organizational aim and objectives. They usually include the follows:

-       interactive seminars and trainings;
- practical workshops;
- conferences and round tables;
- public hearings;
- informational support;
- pilot activities;
- small grants programs;

-       youth exchanges;

-       training courses

-       EVS projects