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.