b'LL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUTFACTSA 10 CONCERN DEBATES IN 1 After months of preparation, teams compete before judges and their 2 The Ireland Funds have enabled 16 schools to participate peers.Pointsaregivenandteamsprogresstoaknockoutroundbefore in Concern Debates that otherwise would not have been winnersaredeclared(thoughmanywouldsayallwhoparticipate,win!) able to participate.3 More than 45,000 students have engaged in the debates. About 120 schools participate each year.Whydoit?Studentsnotonlylearnabouthowtheworldworks,buttheydevelop 4 Each school team is made up of four speakers, 5 skillsinresearchandpublicspeaking.Learningtoanticipaterebuttalandhow researchers, a public relations representative and a time keeper. Groupies are encouraged!anopponentwillrespondisalsoagreatskill. 6 DebateshaveincludedtopicssuchasTheworldcancopewithitsgrowingpopulationandIrelandmustdeliveronits0.7%overseasaidpromise.7 Concern Debates have been running for over 30 years!8 I have found the Concern Debates absolutely brilliant! I have only been in two so far9 Thedebatesareopentoallstudentsbut it has been such a learning experience. I have not only educated myself in subjectsbetween4thand6thyearattendinglike the UN, but I have really gained so much confidence, although the ole legs shakesecondaryschoolsinIreland.Andnowstill when I get up to speak! Thanks once again for this opportunity.Sarah Murphy theresapilotcompetitionhappeninginNorthernIrelandaswell.10 Debate winners travel to countries where Concern is active.Last years winners went to Ethiopia and visited a school and met students in rural Guguftu. connect2015 | 47'