Centre of Cultivating Dialogue – Soros Debating Centre

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About

The Debating Program in Bosnia & Herzegovia is the youngest member of the network of debate programs: OSF B&H established it in 1997. Main activities and projects included organizing seminars, meetings, competitions, TV competitions, international competitions, international conferences, debate news, public presentations, round tables, summer camps, interclub meetings, exams for trainers, supervisions, media presentations. One of its most important activities was the organization of several TV debate competitions “Za i protiv” (“pro and contra” between 1997 and 2003. According to data published by UNICEF in 2002, “Za i protiv” TV show was the highest rated educational TV show in country. In Jun 2003 “Za i protiv” was awarded a prize by OSCE. In January 2005, the Debating Program continued its activities as part of the independent NGO Center of Cultivating Dialogue. The goals of the Center are: - To stimulate cultivating dialogue, by enabling youth to became change carriers above all in educational system, with purpose of promotion of democratic models of communication and decision-making - To stimulate interactive education method in schools - To promote creativity and activeness of youth and development of critical thinking which will create generation of socially aware citizens - To collect documentation, to distribute and publicly present information on youth, to educate about human rights, culture, science and society in general - To support empowerment and consulting of Students Council in schools in B&H - To initiate and support creation of public Debates in B&H - To affirm, promote and advocate youth needs in public and in government structures of any level related to education or wider - Promotion in all official languages, also in minority languages in B&H, as well in English and other world languages - To empower tolerance and respect to other ideas, states, orientations or ethical groups - To publish newspapers, books, textbooks, and other publications related to organization objectives and youth education as well as education of public. The Debating Program is operating in area of whole B&H including both entities and Brčko Distrikt.. The Center is the member of International Debate and Education Association (IDEA). They also participate in international projects in cooperation with UNICEF, European Commission, IDEA, SIDA, UNDP.

OSI Affiliation

Debate Program of B&H was operating from 1997 to 2005 as part of Open Society Fund Soros B&H. In January 2005 the Debate Program span-off from the OSF B&H and became the Centre of Cultivating Dialogue, a non-governmental, non-political and non- profitable organization which gathers high-school students and professors regardless of their religion or national/ethical background.