World Vision is piloting an empowering initiative to educate the art of debate to children in Armenia’s hard-to-reach communities thus enabling them to come up with constructive ideas and realize those ideas in their lives.

The initial public debate took place in mid December in Alaverdi, northern Armenia, where school children, divided into two groups showcased their skills while debating over the idea of Inclusive Education, in front of the country’s government and famous civil society representatives from Helsinki Committee of Armenia and Civil Society Institute, as well as representatives from the country’s Disabled People’s Organizations. The debate was devoted to International Day of Disabled Persons and International Human Rights Day and was supported by World Vision Armenia’s Grassroots Voice for Human Rights Mobilization Project.

“We should have started the insertion of Inclusive Education in the country by organizing these kind of debates and discussions at schools; the schools would have learnt the pros and cons of Inclusive Education and would have been ready to take up the challenge”,  says Narek Sargsyan, the head of Lori Region’s Family, Women and Child rights protection department.

World Vision Advocacy and Child Protection experts have been working closely with some 30 children from the communities of Alaverdi to educate them to the debating skills; the topics for the training included Research, Logical sequence, Rhetorical art, Oral Communication skills and more. The aim of these training was to build the capacity of children to raise their voices and advocate for their rights themselves.

Children have formed Debate clubs at their schools later on where during the regular meetings they work on polishing their skills and learning new ones.

“The work with the children was amazing, their enthusiasm and readiness was reflected on their performance and participation during the training. The only thing that differs these children from their peers living in the capital Yerevan, is that they are a bit constrained, which is a result of unfair distribution of opportunities in the country’s regions and the capital”, says Artak Shakaryan, World Vision Armenia Advocacy Expert.

Children have done an amazing research and preparatory work before the debate. The jury members though had some constructive comments for children’s consideration, “I would love the children to be more creative while responding to spontaneous questions. This is something the children still need to work on”, says Head of Helsinki Committee of Armenia Avetik Ishkhanyan, one of the jury members of the debate.

“I love debating as it gives me confidence to push my ideas. Before joining the club, everyone knew me as a shy person, but today I am so self-confident. Many people around us have brilliant ideas, but as they lack proper debating skills, they are never able to realize those ideas”, says Lena Matosyan, 14 from Haghpat Secondary School.

Next on World Vision’s plan are Gyumri, Yerevan, Gavar and Kapan Regions of the country, where similar clubs are going to be formed.