Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the Young Mediterranean Voices programme kept youth across the MENA region connected through the #YMVOnlineDebates. These online debates proved
that nothing can stop youth voices from being heard!
Using debate as a main tool for social change, the debate clubs tackled a key need/issue in their community, aiming at inviting the right stakeholders to raise their awareness and drive them to take an action.
Best of luck to the YMV Debate Clubs in Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, and Tunisia who took up on this challenge!
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As part of the Young Mediterranean Voices
programme's cycle of activities, the National Debate Training was held virtually in the eight countries were the programme operates.
"I was hesitant in the beginning thinking that it's going to be online, it's going to be boring... but it was fun! My expectations were met. This training was well-informative. It wasn't repetitive to me, although I was part of last year's adjudication camp, I got to learn new things, refresh my mind on my debate knowledge and also learn how to cascade this knowledge to young people." Meriam Yahiaoui - Tunisia
"By making this shift from the traditional process into E-process and by being non-stopable, I've learned a lesson from YMV. This lesson helped me noticing that knowledge and experience have no borders and can't be stopped. And that helped me starting the "re rule", which is re-set, re-adjust, and re-start toward my goals." Rimah Al Awar - Lebanon
Whilst some of the countries chose to simply conduct a refresher for their existing Peer Facilitators, this event was an opportunity for the programme in Algeria, Lebanon, and Tunisia to welcome the new joiners to the YMV pool of Peer Facilitators!
"This year's National Debate Training came along with the COVID-19 pandemic, which made the whole process an interesting one. At first, I thought using online training, with 5 hours a day accompanied with, power cuts, poor connection, and just intense civil war clashes will be mission impossible; so at one point I had to rely on my spirit and my partner in training's positive spirits. I thought with our passion for the cause, for a better Libya, a Libya that dialogue will make a part of, we'll work hard to make it happen.
Remarkably we continued even with power cuts, using every device, gadgets, charge lamp in the house, and exceeding 8 hours training with trainees asking us for more days of training and with passion and will, making the last day of training an emotional one . This have given us the best example and the best motive to start our next training with even a stronger will and love for what we do." - Hiba Ahmed Elsheikh, Libya
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