Skip to main content
Open searchOpen menuDonate
Open search
Open Our work
Open What we do
  • Livelihoods
  • Health and nutrition
  • Education
  • Emergencies
  • Gender equality
  • Climate and environment
    • Open Where we work
  • View all countries
    • Open Schools and youth
  • Secondary Schools
  • Primary Schools
  • Concern Post Primary Debates
  • Primary school debates
  • Global Citizenship Education Resources
  • Youth Hub
  • Fundraising in Schools
  • Arrange a talk or workshop
    • Open Global Activism
  • 1Planet4All
  • Project Us
    • Open Latest news
  • View all news
    • Open About us
    Open Who we are
  • Our values
  • Our history
  • Testimonials
    • Open How we raise money
  • Institutional donors
  • Partners
  • Public donations
    • Open Transparency and accountability
  • Annual reports
  • How money is spent
  • How we are governed
  • Codes and policies
  • Supply chains
    • Open How to help
    Open Donate now
  • Concern Summer Raffle
  • Sudan crisis appeal
  • TV Appeal
  • Gaza emergency appeal
    • Open Fundraise for Concern
  • Start your own fundraiser
  • Find a friend to sponsor
  • Fundraise locally
  • Sign up for Women's Mini Marathon
    • Open Other ways to give
  • Donate in memory
  • Leave a gift in your Will
  • Concern Gifts
  • Your donation and tax back
    • Open Philanthropy & Major Gifts
    Open Corporate support
  • Become a corporate supporter
  • Partner with us
  • Concern Humanitarian Fund
  • Women of Concern Annual Awards
  • Staff fundraising
  • Payroll giving
    • Open Volunteer in Ireland
    Open Knowledge Hub
    Open Knowledge Hub resources
  • Knowledge Matters Magazine
  • Global Hunger Index
  • Evaluations
  • Research
  • Learning Papers
    • Contact us
    Latest news
    Schools
    Vacancies
    Ethiopian woman with her two sons

    Donate today

    Give your support where it's needed most
    Donate now

  • What we do

  • Where we work

  • Schools and youth

  • Global Activism

  • Latest news

    • Annual Report 2022

    Read our 2022 annual report

    Concern's objectives, activities and achievements in 2022 can be found in our new annual report.
    Read the report

  • Who we are

  • How we raise money

  • Transparency and accountability

    • Baby looking at camera, being held by woman wearing beaded necklaces

    Donate today

    Join us on our mission to end extreme poverty, whatever it takes.
    Donate now

  • Donate now

  • Fundraise for Concern

  • Other ways to give

  • Philanthropy & Major Gifts

    • Corporate support

    • Volunteer in Ireland

        • Knowledge Hub

        Knowledge Hub

        Evidence-based learning, evaluations, research, guidance, manuals, tools and programme updates.

      • Knowledge Hub resources

        • Explore
        An array of Sustainable Development Goals illustrations on a table at Agents of Change event An array of Sustainable Development Goals illustrations on a table at Agents of Change event An array of Sustainable Development Goals illustrations on a table at Agents of Change event
        Home/Schools and youth/Concern Post Primary Debates/

        Resources and Materials for Young People

        Resources and Materials for Young People

        Research and preparation are important parts of debating. On this page, you will find information, resources and videos for young people to help you to research, understand the stages of the programme and to get the most from participating in the Concern Debates!

         

        Just joined the Concern Debates team and not sure what to expect? Check out our final from 2023 and an online training video for the 2023-2024 competition.

        video-preview
        short logoConcern Debates Final Livestream 2023
        play video icon
        YouTube video preview
        short logoDebates online student training 2023-2024
        play video icon

        Resources and Materials

        Find information below about how to structure a speech, tips on what adjudicators are looking for and some ideas to help you and your teammates prepare!

        We would strongly encourage you look at the materials below as it will help you to develop as a debater! 

        You can also find information about the Sustainable Development Goals which link to your debate topics, as well as information about our country programmes! 

        More information

        Download

        Preparing for your debate Student Tips.pdf
        (PDF, 180 kB)
        Published: 7 February 2022
        Refutation and Rebuttal Student.pdf
        (PDF, 235 kB)
        Published: 7 February 2022
        Timekeepers Role.pdf
        (PDF, 158 kB)
        Published: 7 February 2022
        How To Structure Your Speech.pdf
        (PDF, 181 kB)
        Published: 7 February 2022
        Concern Debates - Glossary.pdf
        (PDF, 2 MB)
        Published: 7 February 2022
        Chairpersons Sample Speech.pdf
        (PDF, 320 kB)
        Published: 7 February 2022
        Timekeepers Sheet.pdf
        (PDF, 750 kB)
        Published: 7 February 2022
        Marking sheet.pdf
        (PDF, 244 kB)
        Published: 7 February 2022

        Related reading

        1/3

        Georgina Farr, Lauren Mawe-Downey and Danielle Crowley-Healy from Cork's St. Mary’s Senior Girls National School, Dunmanway at the Semi-final Primary Debates
        Info
        4 March 2019

        Primary school debates

        Last year, over 400 primary schools were involved in debates nationwide.
        Adjudicators, Bernadette Brennan, Cathal Curry, and Lauren Wright clapping at the Concern Debates Semi-Final
        Info
        4 March 2019

        Adjudicators

        The Concern Debates would not happen without our amazing team of volunteers across the country.
        School Fundraising. Tarbert Comprehensive School, Tarbert, Co Kerry. Photo: Noeleen Doyle / Concern Worldwide.
        Info
        15 March 2019

        School fundraising

        Our work would not be possible without the generous support from schools all around Ireland.
        People gather with jerrycans and other containers to collect water from a tanker cistern in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip

        Gaza Emergency Appeal

        • 1.9 million people displaced

        • 2.2 million people in need of humanitarian assistance

        • People need nutrition support, medical assistance, and water, sanitation and hygiene services

        Donate now

        Other ways to help

        Corporate support icon

        Corporate support

        Is your company interested in working together for a common cause?

        Fundraise for Concern icon

        Fundraise for Concern

        From mountain trekking to marathon running, cake sales to table quizzes, there are lots of ways you can support our work.

        Buy a gift icon

        Buy a gift

        With an extensive range of alternative gifts, we have something to suit everybody.

        Leave a gift in your will icon

        Leave a gift in your will

        Leave the world a better place with a life-changing legacy.

        Volunteer with Concern icon

        Volunteer with Concern

        The lots of ways to get involved with our work as a volunteer

        School fundraising icon

        School fundraising

        Without the generous support from schools, we wouldn't be able to do the work that we do.

        Share your concern
        Share