From 19 to 24 September 2025, the first activity of the DEAL – Debate Education for Active Local Participation project took place with the organization of the Regional Training for Educators in Struga, North Macedonia.
The training brought together 10 representatives from Junior Achievement of Albania, including staff members, Debate Club coordinators, and adjudicators, who joined colleagues from Croatia and North Macedonia. The activity aimed to strengthen the capacities of educators and youth workers in using debate as an educational tool to foster critical thinking, civic engagement, and active participation among young people.
Throughout the training, participants engaged in both theoretical and practical sessions covering topics such as the functioning of Debate Clubs, the use of non-formal education methods in youth work, ethics in youth engagement, and debate adjudication and evaluation. The programme included hands-on exercises, group work, and peer learning through the exchange of experiences among partner organisations.
The DEAL project is implemented by the Croatian Debate Society, in partnership with Junior Achievement of Albania and the Youth Educational Forum (YEF) from North Macedonia, with financial support from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia. The regional training in Struga represents an important step toward building a network of educators committed to promoting debate, democratic values, and youth participation at the local and regional level.