GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES LIBERIA DEBATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

The government of Liberia through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which is responsible to legalize non-governmental organizations in the country has recognized the Liberia Debate Education Association (LIDEA).

The recognition came as a result of the Executive Director of LIDEA Letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia, Mrs. Olunbanke King Akerele, to instruct her relevant bureau in her ministry to issue the organization its Articles of Incorporation.

On April 15, 2010, after meeting up with all of the requirements to obtain an Articles of Incorporation, the Liberia Debate Education Association officially received her incorporation from the government of the Republic of Liberia.

In a release, the Executive Director of LIDEA, Mr. Alvin W. Yelloway commended the government for recognizing the association and promised to partner with other international and national organizations in order to build up the debate skills of Liberian youths and students.

The Liberia Debate Education Association was founded in 2009. Since its formation, the organization has partnered with other organizations in the training of students and youth to become critical and logical debaters and public speakers.

LIDEA, YMCA END DEBATE TOURNAMENT

The Liberia Debate Education Association (LIDEA) and the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) of Liberia have concluded a one week debate tournament amongst eight high schools in Monrovia.

The tournament which started on March 31 and ended April 6, 2010 brought together eight participating schools to include: BW Harris Episcopal High School, St. Peters Lutheran High School, St Mary Catholic School, Henri Wilmot Dennis United Methodist High School, St Edward Catholic High School and the John N. Wulu Memorial High School.

The tournament was won by the BW Harris Episcopal High School, who defeated the Cathedral Catholic High School in the grand final of the tournament.

The entire tournament debating formation was the Parliamentary Debate style of playing which was used by the students.

Before the tournament, the YMCA of Liberia in collaboration with the Liberia Debate Education Association conducted 4-day debate training for thirty two high school students from the eight schools that competed in the tournament and also conducted one day debate training for coaches and judges for high school and college debate judges and coaches.

The trainings were held from March 24-27, 2010 for the students and the coaches and judges training was on March 27, 2010 in the YMCA of Liberia Conference Room.

At the end of the tournament, Mrs. Lyn Gray, Training and Development Officer of the YMCA of Liberia commended the LIDEA team and the students for the one week tournament and further caution the students to become critical, logical and effective debaters and public speakers.

The debate training and tournament was sponsored by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa, implemented by the YMCA of Liberia and LIDEA provided the training and technical supports for the entire debate tournament.

LIBERIA DEBATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION PRE-LAUNCH

A scholarly and educational organization that is geared towards developing the debate skills of young Liberians students, youths and community dwellers has been pre-launched in Monrovia on Friday, October 30, 2009.

At the Pre-Launch of the Liberia Debate Education Association (LIDEA), the President of LIDEA, Alvin Yelloway said that his organization will help in the full development of the debate skills of Liberian students and youths. Mr. Yelloway said as a nation that has graduated from 14 years of civil conflict, it was important for students to understand and practice calm debate for peaceful co-existence and democracy. He called on the government of Liberia and international non-government organizations to partner with LIDEA in realizing their objectives.

Officially Pre-Launching the organization was the Former Chairman of the Monrovia City Council, Hon. Daniel G. Johnson. Hon. Johnson said that it was important for such an educational association to be established in post war Liberia, in order to prepare the future generation of the nation.

In an exhibition debate match played between the G.W. Gibson High School and the Elizabeth Crawford High School, on the Topic: “Should Power be vested more in the Executive Branch than the Legislative Branch of the Liberian Government?”. The G.W. Gibson High School won the exhibition match with 378 points.

The Pre-Launching of the Liberia Debate Education Association (LIDEA) also paid host to two senatorial aspirants in the upcoming Montserrado County By-election. The aspirants spoke on the theme: “Platform for 2009 Montserrado County By-election; issues, prospects and challenges”.

In her presentation to the students, Grace M. Kpaan, outlined unity, empowerment and the enforcement of a decent work force in the country. She said when she is elected as Senator of Montserrado County, she will bring about labor reform in the country, emphasizing on the mining and agriculture industries and stressing the need to lobby for the passage of a bill in line with decent labor practices.

For his part, the Former Chairman of the Monrovia City Council, Hon. Daniel Johnson, now Senatorial Aspirant said when he is elected at the Upper House of the National Legislature, he will initiate a process that will lead to students’ exchange, between Liberian students and other students in other parts of the world. Mr. Johnson further promised to liaise with the government to sponsor less fortunate Liberian students.

The Pre-Launching of the Liberia Debate Education Association brought together government officials, schools administrators and scores of students in and around Monrovia.

The Liberia Debate Education Association, (LIDEA), is a non-profit and non-governmental educational association that is geared towards developing the debate, public speaking and essay writing skills of Liberian students, youths and community dwellers in Liberia. LIDEA mission is to promote mutual understanding, sustainable education and democracy nationally by supporting discussion and active citizenship locally and globally.

Liberia Debate Education Association

The Liberia Debate Education Association, LIDEA, is a non-profit, and non-governmental educational association that is geared towards developing the debate skills of students, youths and community dwellers in Liberia. The Liberia Debate Education Association (LIDEA) will educate young Liberians on debate and provide them with relevant debating skills and help them to voice out their views in a clear and persuasive manner on a number of interested issues at the community and national levels.

MISSION STATEMENT

Focusing on young people, students and their communities, the mission of the Liberia Debate Education Association is to promote mutual understanding, sustainable education and democracy nationally by supporting discussion and active citizenship locally.

VISION STATEMENT

The vision of LIDEA is to foster calm debate and educational programs in Liberia which will lead to mutual understanding among people, students and community dwellers for peaceful co-existence and democracy in every facet of the Liberian society, thereby enhancing national development

CORE VALUES

THE CORE VALUES OF LIDEA INCLUDE:

Education
Resourcefulness
Objectivity
Integrity
Accountability
Transparency
Respect (self respect and respect for others)
Tolerance love
Nationalism and patriotism

Programs of LIDEA

PROGRAMS OF LIDEA

National debate competition amongst colleges and universities in Liberia
National debate competition amongst high schools in Liberia
Public speaking competition
Spelling Bee competition
Intellectual discourse(s)
Intellectual fora
Civic education and advocacy
UN Mock General Assembly
Internet debating
Debate in neighborhood (DIN)
Radio and television debates

CONTACT

LIBERIA DEBATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION (LIDEA)
Monrovia, Liberia
Republic of Liberia
West Africa
Cell #: +2315894287
E-mail: liberiadebate@gmail.com