The Great Debaters Morocco

Fouded in 2008 is the first civil society youth initiative for debate in the Mena region, is a youth-led association that ensures youngsters are provided with the opportunity to exchange ideas and opinions on issues and topics that concern them both as Moroccan and global citizens. Its main mission is to help students have a tolerant environment where they can express themselves freely, trade opinions, learn to accept other people's beliefs and develop proficiency in public speaking and debate. GDM projects consists of organizing the association's debate seasons. A debate season usually gathers different Moroccan institutions of higher education within local, regional, and national debate tournaments fitting into the spirit of our association which aims to promote dialogue and freedom of speech. In addition to national, regional and local debate tournaments. The impact participating in GDM national and international debate competitions had on students is to learn to be tolerant towards adverse opinions, learn how to defend one's beliefs while accepting dialogue and diversity, unlearn stereotypes and discover other cultural and social backgrounds, believe in one's freedom of speech, meet people that share the same values and collaborate with them in other projects, have a say in topicality issues and try to make one's voice heard by taking the debate to the next level (through taking initiatives, writing on the matter and sensitizing people via internet,etc.), advocate human rights, practice foreign languages and gain self-confidence.