The winner of the 15^th edition of The Young Debaters will represent Ghana at the 45th Annual IPSC in London.

Instead of traditional motions, you’ll create your own unique topics based on a theme.

This year’s themes are:

Semi-Final:
“Unity, to be real, must stand the severest strain without breaking.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Grand Final:
“We know what we are, but not what we may be.” – William Shakespeare

Are you a 16- or 17-year-old high school student? Then follow these simple steps:

• Register and pay GHS 350 for the programme [here].
• Join the briefing session to get all the tips and tricks.
• Prepare your speeches and get ready to take the stage.

👉 Deadline to register: December 18, 2024

• December 18, 2024: Registration closes
• December 21, 2024: briefing session [virtual]
• January 2, 2025: submit speech 1 [via email]
• January 9, 2025: Semi-finalists declared [via email]
• January 18, 2025: Semi-Finals competition [in-person]
• February 2025 (TBC): Finalists’ coaching sessions [virtual]
• March 1, 2025: Final coaching session + speech 2 submission [in-person & via email]
• March 8, 2025: Finals competition [in-person]
• April 15, 2025 (TBC): IPSC Participant Q&A [virtual]
• May 12-17, 2025: IPSC Finals Week in London [in-person]

• TYD-IPSC is a prestigious international competition and highly motivating for students and schools as a whole
• Offers a firm foundation for taking up international diplomacy as a course of study.
• Extra-curricular programme that will enhance any student’s CV for admission into colleges and universities.
• Helps to hone their persuasion and presentation skills which are useful during college/university interviews.
• Promotes confidence, critical thinking, and cultural understanding, broadening participants’ horizons and opportunities.
• Non-adversarial format which emphasises research, organisation, and presentation skills.
• Opportunity to build an international network of lifelong friends

IPSC-UK brings the best young speakers from all over the world to London for a week of cultural exchange and public speaking contests.

Established in 1980, it now reaches over one million young people in more than 50 countries across the globe, showcasing the highest standard of public speaking, while giving delegates an opportunity to meet and engage with other young people of different backgrounds and nationalities.
Finalists (national winners of the English-Speaking Union’s or other public speaking competitions in their country) must write and deliver a speech connected with the theme for the year’s competition.

Past themes have included ‘Culture is not a luxury but a necessity’ and ‘The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they have none’

IPSC-UK, established in 1980, brings the best young speakers from all over the world to London for a week of cultural exchange and public speaking contests.
Accessed by one million young people of different backgrounds from more than 50 countries across the globe Finalists must write and deliver a speech connected with the theme for the year’s competition.
Speakers are given themes, not topics e.g. ‘The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they have none.”