Shaping a Generation Through Dialogue: Inside the Doha Debates Ambassador Program

In a world shaped by change and competing narratives, the ability to listen, question and engage in constructive dialogue has never been more critical. Through the Doha Debates Ambassador Program, a production of Qatar Foundation, young people from around the world are not only learning these skills, but actively applying them in their communities, careers and areas of study.

This 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—a 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.

Algoori Maki, 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.