Doha Debates programme closes entries on August 24
Applications have opened for the Doha Debates ambassador programme, with entries accepted until August 24 for fluent English speakers aged 18 to 24.
Doha Debates, a production of Qatar Foundation in Doha, Qatar, runs the online educational programme for young people from around the world.
Each year, more than 400 young people from over 80 countries join the programme to learn how to listen, question and lead discussions on complex global issues.
Instead of a Western-style battle of ideas, the course teaches an approach grounded in the Majlis, a welcoming social space for discussing community issues.
Algoori Maki, 19, studies engineering at Qatar University and joined the programme to be part of a space where ideas translate into impact.
“I used to see debating as a way to prove your point and win an argument,” Maki said. “But my perspective has changed. Today, I see debate as a way to explore ideas, challenge assumptions and understand different viewpoints. It’s about listening with intention.”
Following the programme, Maki developed a clearer sense of how to channel strong convictions into thoughtful exploration.
Mohammed Al-Qassabi, 26, is a Doha-based cybersecurity engineer with a Master of Science in AI and cognitive cybersecurity.
That interest drew Al-Qassabi to the ambassador programme, where he began to rethink debate as a tool for understanding rather than persuasion.
For Al-Qassabi, meaningful dialogue connects to the way people collaborate, lead and create impact in professional and community settings.
Maria Emilia Zapata in Quito
Across continents, participants reported similar shifts, including Maria Emilia Zapata, 24, a lawyer from Quito, Ecuador, with a background in law and human rights.
“The idea of using dialogue to foster understanding and find common ground really resonated with me,” Zapata said. “Being part of the programme made me feel understood, and like I had found a community.”
Meanwhile, Zapata said the programme gave her a framework for values she had long held after training in competitive legal environments.
The full release describes the ambassador programme as a way for young people to learn truth-seeking conversations about complex global issues.
Applications for the Doha Debates ambassador programme are available at DohaDebates.com/Ambassador until August 24.
