Let’s involve youth in Haiti’s change

By Clarisse ALTIDOR

Former debater from Bourdon’s debate club

Port-au-Prince-Haiti

PIJ/FOKAL

This text by Clarisse Altidor was published in English, along with the text of nine other candidates in an international essay competition, in the International Debate Education Association's Position Paper and Essays: 'Debate changed my life', based in the Netherlands (IDEA NL). His essay was selected from over one hundred other participants in the competition organized by IDEA NL, open to the 19 member associations of the organization, including FOKAL, as part of its 20th anniversary.

Choosing to integrate the debating club when I was seventeen was one of my greatest decisions in my entire life. Whether it is to defend my position about a subject, to listen to someone else’s opinion in order to agree or disagree, this program turned out to be a real asset in my life. Other than these different skills, being part of a debate club helped me to figure out what is important to me in order to take responsible decisions and highlight my capacity for expression as well as my critical mind. Furthermore, this program is a great source of motivation and opportunities.

Two years after joining this debating club, when I was nineteen, I was able to experience everything that I learnt from it to gain a scholarship offered by U.S. embassy working with Union School, an American school established in Haiti. This scholarship as known as << English Access Micro scholarship>> provided English language skills and appreciation for the U.S. culture based on democratic values. I was qualified as a calm strength by the program’s coordinator to be chosen with 23 other young girls among more than one hundred candidates registered. I strongly think it is related to my ability to speak my mind and to speak it to convince, to make difference and to acquire the attention of critical mind.

When I have finally reached the state university, debate skills has helped me to discuss with other students no matter their ages and their experiences about global issues that I was already aware in my debate club, by example: global warming, human rights, elections process fair, etc.

Those experiences, among many others helped me understand how the debate is a crucial element for young people with basic or high school education to use knowledge that they had earned in order to build persuasive speech. Furthermore, being part of such a well-established program allows them to organize more efficiently their ideas and then defend strongly their opinions about subjects related some global issues.

However, debate program help youth that are used to debating in an organizing way to increase their willingness to documentary (audio, reading, etc.) Thus this increases their reflexes to respond and do it to enlighten minds, stock critical thinking and participate in the process of social changes that every Haitian has been dreaming for a while.

Having a young debater’s generation who is starting to involve its role in Haiti, characterized by a nonstop political and economic crisis would help to improve the understanding of the different issues that we face and searching a more convincing perspective by inviting the principal protagonists who do not want to establish dialogue amongst them to make this country better. Exceeding our differences by taking the path towards a better consensus that is aiming for a mutual good is one of the various solutions that could lead us to the path of a sustainable development.

However, to establish this mutual well-being and ensure the smooth running of our state and private institutions, I would find it very wise to debate the importance of the constitutional amendment in a framework where there are lots of people who wishes for that review of the constitution, while a lot of others think that the real issue comes from the application of these laws in the society.

Laws are not eternal. They are part of the development of the different spaces that they are called to regulate. As such, I strongly think that our constitution, published in 1987, reviewed in 2010, deserved a profound commotion but this time so that it can reflect the actual reality instead of having a beautiful text describing a reality that is long gone.

A debate based on a subject that involves all the citizens in the country, is a great opportunity for the young to participate in the improvement of the society for a better future. By doing so, the new generation could take the succession and the leadership instead of waiting for someone else to do it for them. And so, the establishment of such debates in our society, our schools, and our universities would be a tool for the social and political inclusion for a lot of potential leaders among our youngest generation, who would come with some brand new ideas in the future.

By receiving all this formation, by continuing to apply these skills learned in the program, whether in the university framework or other opportunities that are yet to come and inviting young people to be a part of it, allows me to stay connected to this embryo holding the gift of better changes in the society I live in. If we take our time to think about it, the real goal behind all these tournaments is not to beat the opponent but instead, it helps us analyze the same question from a different angle. With this method, each of us can learn from the others. Debate changed my life and I’m sure it did for a lot of others, let’s continue so that more of us can take part of it. It’s only by working together that we will reach this better world that we’re all seeking.

Clarisse ALTIDOR

clarissealtidor86@gmail.com

Tertiary Education

Economics

Age: 20 years

Nationality: Haitian

FOKAL/Youth Initiative Program/ Bourdon’s Debate club

"Let's involve youth in Haiti's change"