Introduction
Debate Network Nepal (DNN) is the nation’s leading debate body also serving as Nepal’s national debate organization. It envisions Nepal as a nation where intellectually empowered citizens strengthen democratic values by leading national debate movement of global standard.
Realizing the serious need of debate culture in Nepalese academic and public sector as a whole, DNN was founded as a non-partisan social enterprise in March 2013 by Rishab K Shrestha and Sajal Pradhan and Pradeep Ghimire. Later, it was registered as a profit not distributing company in February, 2015 at the Company Registrar’s Office under the Company Act, 2006 of Nepal with registration number 132100/071/072.
DNN works on five thematic areas viz empowerment, establishment, tournament, representation and advocacy. In the process, DNN has empowered thousands of citizens from all over Nepal, established dozens of debating related institutions, engaged hundreds of them in tournaments, brought forth dozens of debaters from among them to represent Nepal in international arena, and by all these means, actively advocated for the promotion of debating culture in a nation which has always struggled for a democracy that functions well.
Since its inception, Nepal has witnessed establishment of better integrated debate culture in the nation, production of hundreds of influential debaters nationwide, strengthened representation of Nepal in world championships and changed perception of public regarding the power and significance of debating.
DNN has mostly worked being based in Kathmandu and its office operates from Thapathali, Kathmandu 11, Nepal. However, it is currently in a mission to scale up the processes of establishment debate societies, chapters and clubs all over Nepal. DNN can be reached at +977-1-4246065, info@debate.net.np and visited at www.debate.net.np.
Vision
DNN envisions Nepal as a nation where intellectually empowered citizens strengthen democratic values by leading national debate movement of global standard.
Mission
Institutionalizing debate culture in Nepal.
Our Values
Community | Democracy | Enterprising | Excellence | Innovation | Intellect | Mentorship | Passion | Sportsmanship
Thematic Areas
It has been carrying out the following activities being based on above mentioned thematic areas.
- Empowerment (of citizens via training, mentorship and regular practice platforms)
- Debate Aadhar, a basic one day workshop on parliamentary debating
- Tarkashala, the residential school of argumentation and adjudication
- Sansadalaya, the school of parliamentary debating (for policymakers/ politicians)
- Debate Shrinkhala, a series of parliamentary debating workshops
- Weekly Debate Friendlies, weekly English debating practice platform
- Chakrabyuha, fortnightly Nepali debating practice platform
- Establishment (of debate culture through establishment of debating institutions)
- DNN Chapters, local units of DNN which work to promote school level debating and facilitate school level debate clubs and represent them.
- Debate Societies, university level debate institutions which work to promote debating in respective universities, support debate clubs within and represent them.
- Debate Clubs, institution based debate institutions which conduct regular debate programs with or without getting affiliated with a chapter or a society.
- Tournaments (as competitive platforms for debaters)
- MahaKumbha, annual national schools debate championship
- MahaSangram, annual national British Parliamentary debating league
- VidhuShe, annual international Women’s British Parliamentary debating championship
- Rastra Bahas, annual Nepali British Parliamentary championship
- Law Debates, debate tournament exclusively for law students.
- Mini Tournaments, brief inter/intra institutional debate championships
- WDF Opens, monthly debate tournament
- Other occasional and subject specific tournaments
- Representation (of Nepal and Nepali institutions/ independent teams in internationally)
- World Schools Debating Championships (from WSDC Germany 2015 onwards)
- World Universities Debating Championships (from WUDC Greece 2016 onwards)
- Other representations (for example: IUB Ascension, Global Health Debates 2015, Bangla Worlds 2015, GNLU Debates 2016)
- Advocacy (for the establishment of debate for excellence in democracy and academics)
- Debating for democracy: critical thinking, civic awareness, transparency, accountability and informed and rational decision making
- Debating for academic excellence: promotion as a major extracurricular activity and integration of debating in curriculum