City of Nis Debate Club is an NGO founded in the City of Niš, Serbia, as a network of debate clubs of the City of Niš. For the past years, its members have been developing methods of gathering debaters, judges, trainers, and teachers from Niš and the region of South-East of Serbia. The objectives of the City of Niš Debate Club are to improve competencies when education, freedom of speech, gender issues, social inclusion, democracy, and intercultural competence are considered. Furthermore, according to the importance of an interdisciplinary approach among formal education provided by schools, and social and self-awareness, provided by non-formal and informal education, our work embraces all the aspects needed to open another perspective of tolerance and an open society.
We organize various projects – TC, YE and seminars in our country relevant to existing problems and participate in national and international projects. The politics of humanity in action is highly regarded in the City of Nis Debate Club; therefore, we participate in each event to help develop a more modern, educated, progressive-minded, and proactive society.
Our main objectives are:
- creating educational learning opportunities;
- developing creative and innovative thinking and skills among youth and children;
- promoting the development of creative society and the innovative economy by the active involvement of youth;
- promoting active citizenship, solidarity, tolerance and understanding between cultures;
- informing and raising awareness about EU, its democracy policies and values;
- decreasing prejudices and increasing society’s tolerance through cultural understanding
- contributing to social awareness about common human and natural resources by growing the feeling of responsibility to each other;
- development of different projects and seminars relevant to the current youth and world problems;
- supporting young people in their personal development through participation in European education programs and projects in the field of education, sport, science, culture;
- integration of vulnerable youth groups in society, including students, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, unemployed people, youngsters from rural areas;
- active participation of disadvantaged young people in different projects and activities;
We believe that positive transformation and an increase in the quality of life of a community comes from within everyone. When people connect, they can bring profound and lasting changes to society.
Regarding a wide range of activities promoting democracy and human rights, we have created opportunities for children and youth to participate in dialogue and decision-making by volunteering. Our programs are focused on education and development of critical and creative thinking as well as self-development, emphasizing improvement of transversal skills, attitudes, and knowledge, enhancing confidence, positive social relationships, choices, and enjoyment. We are persistently working towards the vision of a global and inclusive society, where citizens are equally empowered to contribute to the shaping of a world with less prejudice, discrimination, and other forms of injustice.
We have established very good relations with elementary schools and high schools in our region. The cooperation has varied from involved their students in our regular activities to training their teachers to include non-formal methodologies in their regular work with students. Each year we coordinate or participate in the trainings for teachers, youth workers and trainers regarding different approaches and methodologies for teaching, learning, and researching in the fields of education, democracy, and human rights. In 2016. Our members are involved in the process of developing “Memory walk” methodology of Anne Frank House, “Evaluation of TASKs” approach of the Pestalozzi Programme of Council of Europe and in the process of founding debate clubs in primary, secondary schools, and Universities of the City of Nis.
Over the past years, our youth workers and members attended several training courses, seminars, and youth exchanges in Erasmus+. We have formed a network of volunteers who can disseminate at local levels what they learn and who can always bring their knowledge and skills to improve the quality of the projects they are involved. We’re constantly interacting with new volunteers interested in learning more and developing their abilities and aptitudes.
