In partnership with Debate Mate · August 2024
Debate Mate
Learn for Life Lanka partnered with Debate Mate, a global leader in debate programmes, to equip 250 students from under-resourced schools in Sri Lanka with essential skills in critical thinking, public speaking, and confidence-building. Through immersive workshops, collaborative training, and a culminating debate showcase, the programme strengthened communication, reasoning, and leadership—setting the stage for long-term impact across schools and communities in Sri Lanka.
Pilot Programme in Action
Debate, Growth, Confidence
As part of this initiative, 60 teachers from local schools and community centres also received specialized training, ensuring a lasting impact on future generations.
The pilot programme brought together 18 schools from the Serendib Schools Development Foundation (SSDF), St. Anthony’s Balika in Dematagoda, and trainers from the Foundation of Goodness. Over an intensive week-long training held at Khairiya Muslim Girls’ College, in August 2024, students engaged in dynamic workshops designed to enhance their listening, reasoning, and communication abilities. The programme concluded with an exciting debate competition, where students demonstrated their newfound skills in a competitive yet supportive environment.
18 SSDF schools
St. Anthony’s Balika, Dematagoda
St. Anthony’s Balika, Dematagoda
18 SSDF schools
250
students from under-resourced schools
60
teachers from schools and community centres trained
18
SSDF schools in the pilot
1 week
of intensive training in August 2024
65,000+
young people reached by Debate Mate worldwide
Flown in from London
International best practice, made for Sri Lanka
To facilitate the training, Debate Mate’s team flew in from London, working closely with Learn for Life Lanka’s curriculum tailored to the local context. This unique collaboration blended international best practices with Sri Lanka’s educational needs, providing both students and teachers with the tools to succeed beyond the classroom.
The Debate Mate team
Abby McGovern
Elissa Abbara
Sidharth Harigovind
Dale Connellan
Alia Chohan
What students practised
Skills for the classroom and beyond
Listening
Hearing every side of an argument before responding.
Critical thinking
Reasoning clearly and building a strong case.
Public speaking
Speaking up with clarity in front of an audience.
Confidence
Believing your voice and ideas are worth sharing.
Debate Mate’s programmes have impacted over 65,000 young people worldwide, and this partnership is set to expand its reach in Sri Lanka, with future plans to extend training into corporate sectors.
