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Building and connecting independent
thinkers to new opportunities.

Through debate, iDebate builds critical thinking, communication and leadership skills in Rwanda’s secondary school students, giving them skills that open real doors in school, work and life.
ENROLL NOW

Building and connecting independent thinkers to new opportunities.

Through debate, iDebate builds critical thinking, communication and leadership skills in Rwanda’s secondary school students, giving them skills that open real doors in school, work and life.
ENROLL NOW

WHY WE STARTED

iDebate began in 2012 in eight Kigali schools, on one belief. Young people who learn to challenge an idea out loud, and still respect the person who holds it, grow into citizens who think for themselves, work with people they disagree with, and lead in their own communities.
PROGRAMS

Why we started

iDebate began in 2012 in eight Kigali schools, on one belief. Young people who learn to challenge an idea out loud, and still respect the person who holds it, grow into citizens who think for themselves, work with people they disagree with, and lead in their own communities.
PROGRAMS

AB

OUT

We teach secondary school students to debate real public policy questions, starting in school clubs and working up through regional leagues to a national tournament. The goal is for students to learn to question ideas, hear the other side and speak up and grow into engaged, active citizens who are ready to lead in their communities.

LEARN MORE

AB

OUT

We teach secondary school students to debate real public policy questions, starting in school clubs and working up through regional leagues to a national tournament. The goal is for students to learn to question ideas, hear the other side and speak up and grow into engaged, active citizens who are ready to lead in their communities.

LEARN MORE

12K

Students enrolled

204+

Schools in Rwandan

530+

volunteers active in a single year

12K

Students enrolled

204+

Schools in Rwandan

530+

volunteers active in a single year

WHAT
WiDebate BUILDS

Critical Thinking

In every round, a student has to find the strongest version of an argument, then find its weakest point. That habit doesn’t switch off outside the tournament. It’s what makes someone pause and ask “says who?” before accepting a claim, a deal, or a headline.

To Speak confidently

By the end of a season, a student has argued in front of judges dozens of times, fielded questions they didn’t prepare for, and learned to recover mid-argument when a point doesn’t land. That’s the same composure that gets someone through a university interview or a first job interview .

Working Beyond differences

Debaters are assigned a side, not allowed to pick one so a student who’s for something has to argue against it, and the other way around. They learn to understand a position before taking it apart, which is what lets someone sit across from someone they disagree with and still get something done.

Ethical Leadership

Senior debaters judge and coach newer ones long before they’re ever leading a team or managing people. Scoring a round fairly, even one you’d have argued differently, is where real leadership gets practiced first.

ALINE’S
STORY

When you’re very young and you lose your first debate, it crushes your heart. You don’t want to go in front of people again. But there’s a resilience that gets built through that process. The camp trained me to take life as it is, and to take rejection and failure as just part of the process.

Aline Joyce

iDebate alumna, Dreamers Academy

GET INV
GET OLVED

Whether you’re a parent or school or organization interested in supporting our vision, there’s a place for you in the iDebate network

GET INV
GET OLVED

GET INVOLVED

Whether you’re a parent or school or organization interested in supporting our vision, there’s a place for you in the iDebate network

For Parents & Schools

Are you considering debate for your child? Or your school? Find out what students gain.

ENROL A STUDENT

General Visitors

Looking to understand our work. From the National Debate League to Dreamers Academy, see the full range of programs we run.

CONTACT US

Donors

Your donation keeps the opportunity open for the next generation of students across Rwanda.

SUPPORT OUR WORK