The Kurdistan Foundation, dedicated to empowering individuals in the Kurdistan Region, organized the Kurdistan Debate on April 28 in partnership with the Qatar Foundation and QatarDebate. The event aimed to enable students in schools and universities to engage in critical thinking, public speaking, and respectful discourse on current issues.
The QatarDebate Center, founded by Qatar Foundation, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in December with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister’s Office on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2024.
As part of the MoU, both sides agreed to draft a year-long joint action plan to expand debate activities in the Kurdistan Region by establishing debates in collaboration with QatarDebate Center, organizing national contests, launching debate events in 30 educational institutions, and adopting professional debate referees in the Region.
Delighted to attend @KrdFoundation event for the Kurdistan Debate Championship.
— Safeen Dizayee (@SafeenDizayee) April 28, 2025
Seeing students from different schools engage in meaningful and rational debates inspires hope for a brighter future for Kurdistan. pic.twitter.com/p12KFDNn1g
The Kurdistan Foundation, launched in December last year, is an umbrella organization for youth initiatives focused on debate, leadership programs, climate change, and skills development with the aim of building the capacity of young people in Kurdistan to prepare them for the future.
The Kurdistan Debate’s Championship brought together students from 30 schools across Kurdistan, from Zakho to Halabja. Around 30 schools participated in the final stage of the Kurdistan Debate Program.
At the final on Monday, two teams competed in Kurdish and two in English, and the winner was chosen based on their debate skills and critical thinking abilities. The topics of discussion included current issues such as globalization.
“The efforts behind this event, along with the schools, judges, workshops, and other activities, have truly been remarkable,” Mubarrat Wassey, coach and manager of the Qatar National Debate team, said at the event. “The leadership and organization deserve a round of applause. We have experienced Kurdish hospitality, and I think it’s fair to say everyone has fallen in love with it.
“I also had the opportunity to work with the debaters earlier this month, and it’s clear that there is an amazing amount of potential here in Kurdistan. However, it’s not enough – talent needs to be honed and nurtured. This is important because, through debate, students learn to think critically and articulate themselves well, helping shape them into future leaders.”
Wassey was invited to the Kurdistan Region to conduct training for the finalists of the Kurdistan Region Championships.
“The Kurdish students have been wonderful and have a lot of potential. It’s a new initiative, and they have already achieved so much. The teams come from different regions of Kurdistan, which is very different from other countries around the world, where such opportunities are often reserved for capital cities or elite students,” he said, adding that the initiative is for students from diverse backgrounds, cities, and communities.
Chapka Othman, the principal at Cambridge International School - Kurdistan, said they support this type of activity because they believe it is very beneficial for the future of students.
“Debates are not only important for education, but also for life. They build capacity and make a real difference.”
Razhin Mustafa, one of the students participating in the project, said in a video message that the event provides a “unique opportunity to speak and present ourselves to society, and hopefully, we can all benefit from it in the future.”
Furthermore, KRG Minister of Education Alan Hama Saeed Salih, one of the keynote speakers, added that the Kurdistan Foundation launched an important strategy to promote debate in schools.
“Starting at an early age builds a culture of dialogue, helping students become future parents who strengthen society through critical thinking.’
“It’s important to review and improve debate programs within schools and the Ministry of Education. These schools and colleges are preparing students for the Kurdistan Region’s future. We aim to prepare highly capable teachers who can contribute to society. I truly appreciate their role, as well as the efforts of Areen Barzani, the founder of the Kurdistan Foundation, and the Qatar Foundation for their participation in this initiative.
“The new generation, born in a world of technology, has a different perspective and understanding. This represents a very important step toward a new, hyper-connected society where humans play a significant role,” Minister Salih added.
“These students will help reshape the process of education and preparation. That’s why I recommend that the Kurdistan Foundation sign an agreement with the Ministry of Education, and we must have discussions to improve this collaboration. This will help serve the educational needs of our children and future generations. With the guidance of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, we believe the private sector can greatly benefit society through cooperation with the government, ultimately improving the educational system and building a better future.”
Prime Minister Barzani’s strong ties with Gulf Cooperation Council countries are a cornerstone of the KRG’s foreign policy and economic strategy. For instance, the Kurdistan Region has already been exporting agricultural products – especially fruit – to the Gulf, with growing potential to expand and diversify these exports.
The KRG has also strengthened relations with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar to attract investment in energy infrastructure and agriculture. Gulf investors have shown increasing interest in the Region, particularly in renewable energy, tourism, and logistics.
Qatar itself appointed its first consul general in 2023, and has invested in the Kurdistan Region, as well as providing aid and assistance to displaced persons and refugees after ISIS attacked the region in 2014.
