![](\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20260720452437\/en\/2855094\/5\/Shaping_a_Generation_Through_Dialogue_Photo_AETOSWire.jpg\")
<\/a><\/a>![](\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20260720452437\/en\/2855093\/5\/Doha_Debates_-_Logo.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/a><\/a>\nThis online educational program teaches young people from across the globe to debate differently. Rather than engaging in a Western-style battle of ideas, participants take an approach to dialogue that is grounded in the Majlis\u2014a welcoming social space to discuss community issues. Each year, more than 400 youth from over 80 countries come together to learn to listen to one another, understand points of view, and collaborate on solutions to complex problems.<\/p>
\nAlgoori Maki<\/b>, 19, an engineering student at Qatar University, joined the program with a clear intention: to be part of a space where ideas translate into impact. But she also came away understanding how to channel convictions into thoughtful exploration.<\/p>
\n\u201cI used to see debating as a way to prove your point and win an argument,\u201d Maki says. \u201cBut my perspective has changed. Today, I see debate as a way to explore ideas, challenge assumptions and understand different viewpoints. It\u2019s about listening with intention.\u201d<\/p>
\nFor Mohammed Al-Qassabi<\/b>, a 26-year-old Doha-based cybersecurity engineer with a Masters of Science in AI and cognitive cybersecurity, meaningful dialogue has always been tied to the way people collaborate, lead and create impact.<\/p>
\nThat belief led him to the ambassador program, where his understanding of debate began to shift. \u201cI saw debate as presenting arguments and trying to convince others,\u201d he reflects. \u201cOver time, I realized that discussions are less about winning and more about understanding.\u201d<\/p>
\nAcross continents, participants have experienced similar transformations. For Maria Emilia Zapata<\/b>, a 24-year-old lawyer from Quito, Ecuador, the program provided a framework for values she had long held but had not articulated.<\/p>
\n\u201cThe idea of using dialogue to foster understanding and find common ground really resonated with me,\u201d she says. \u201cBeing part of the program made me feel understood, and like I had found a community.\u201d<\/p>
\nWith a background in law and human rights, Zapata had been trained in competitive environments. \u201cI\u2019ve come to see debate as a way to listen, embrace different perspectives and build mutual understanding,\u201d she explains.<\/p>
\nThis kind of transformation is one of the program\u2019s primary goals. While Doha Debates programming reaches millions globally, its impact is measured not only in audience numbers, but in participants\u2019 ability to articulate ideas, listen across differences and engage in constructive dialogue. These skills\u2014the building blocks of healthier public discourse\u2014extend far beyond the program.<\/p>
\nFor Elijah Man\u2019Ishimwe<\/b>, a 31-year-old refugee leader and international relations student based in Nairobi, Kenya, such skills are essential.<\/p>
\nHaving grown up in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda, Man\u2019Ishimwe witnessed firsthand how misunderstandings can escalate into conflict, and how important it is to amplify underrepresented perspectives. \u201cI saw this program as an opportunity to bring those voices into global conversations,\u201d he says, \u201cwhile strengthening my own ability to lead dialogue with empathy and structure.\u201d<\/p>
\nThe Doha Debates Ambassador Program reflects a broader commitment within Qatar Foundation to education that extends beyond traditional learning. Through initiatives like these, young people today are not only engaging with the world, but actively shaping what it could become.<\/p>
\nThe program is open by application till August 24 to fluent English speakers between the ages of 18\u201324. Interested candidates can learn more and apply at DohaDebates.com\/Ambassador<\/a>.<\/p> \nDoha Debates\n \nAbout Doha Debates<\/b><\/p> \nDoha Debates engages a vanguard of intellectually curious truth-seekers to constructively debate differences in order to build a better future. We emphasize unity over division, encouraging conversations that bring us together rather than drive us apart. Learn more at DohaDebates.com<\/a><\/p> \nSource: <\/b>AETOSWire<\/b><\/a><\/p>