Almost There: Closing the Final Chapter of Debating for Diversity
As the Debating for Diversity project enters its final phase, it is hard not to pause and look back – slowly, gratefully, and with a sense of pride. What began as an idea shared across borders has grown into a living, breathing collaboration that brought young voices together, challenged habits, and built something meaningful in three countries.
We are now in the last meters of the project – and what a journey it has been.
Over the past months, we organised dozens of debate sessions in Romania, Slovenia, and Serbia, creating spaces where young people could question, argue, listen, and rethink. These were not just debates in the technical sense, but moments of learning: about democracy, minority rights, technology, human rights, and – perhaps most importantly – about each other.
Learning Across Borders
One of the greatestt strengths of this project was the opportunity to learn from one another’s methods and traditions. We visited Slovenia, welcomed each other in Romania, and worked closely across borders – sometimes in meeting rooms, sometimes online, often late into the night. We compared approaches, tested ideas, and discovered how differently (and similarly) debate can be taught, facilitated, and lived.
Those long conversations didn’t end when the sessions were over. They continued while shaping what may become one of the project’s most lasting outcomes: a practical handbook on organizing debate sessions. Written collaboratively – sometimes literally in the late hours – the publication brings together experience, reflection, and concrete tools from all three partners.
Very soon, this work will become tangible. The handbook is heading to print and will be available in five languages, making the knowledge created during this project accessible well beyond its original framework. Holding it in our hands will be a powerful reminder of what shared thinking and comitmment can produce.
Reaching Beyond the Project
From the beginning, we believed debate should not stay behind closed doors. Throughout the project, we made a conscious effort to reach the wider public: sharing our work on Facebook and X, opening debates to audiences, and engaging with local media. Several local outlets reported on our activities, helping the project reach communities far beyond the debate rooms.
This openness also shaped how we chose to close the project. Rather than ending quietly, Debating for Diversity will conclude with a press conference, where we reflect publicly on what we achieved, what we learned, and what we hope will continue after the project formally ends.
More Than a Project
What makes this ending bittersweet is the feeling that Debating for Diversity was never just about ticking boxes or completing activities. It was about people: students who found their voice, trainers who exchanged perspectives, partners who trusted each other enough to think together honestly and critically.
As we approach the finish line, we do so with gratitude – for the debates that challenged us, the late-night writing sessions, the shared meals and long walks, the disagreements that led to understanding. And with hope: that the methods, relationships, and ideas born here will continue to travel, grow, and inspire.
We may be nearing the end of the project – but the dialogue it started is far from over.