Part of GWDebate's service mission is promoting civic debate education with an emphasis on strategic and/or underserved populations. Our service projects have included:
The Forum for International Tourism and the Environment (FITE): GWDebate is excited to support the Indonesian tourism ministry and Institut Francais in promoting sustainable tourism in Indonesia. During the FITE program, GWDebaters train Indonesian tourism institute students to advocate for sustainable tourism solutions in their communities. The program has engaged hundreds of Indonesian students and produced student-advocacy videos with over 100,000 views.
The Morehouse Social Justice Debates: GWDebate has partnered with Morehouse College to develop the Morehouse Social Justice Debates, which focus on different social justice scholars each year. In 2017 the debates included a Fall "Derek Bell Debates" tournament, hosted at GW. The Debates bring together students, and social justice advocates and scholars to discuss some of the most pressing issues of our time. In the 2016-2017 academic year, the Debates focused on the writings of scholar Derek Bell, and how his work applies to activists today
Middle School Public Debate League: GWDebate works to run tournaments for the local DC Middle School Public Debate League. This also includes preparing exhibition debates by the team for the students. In 2017 this exhibition debate was on the Morehouse Social Justice Debates topic.
Assisting the 29th Division on their Hero's Tour: In 2014 the GWDebate team traveled to Normandy to assist the Veterans of the 29th Division on their Hero's Tour for the 70th Anniversary of D-Day. Students conducted original interviews with WWII veterans, which were submitted to the Library of Congress as part of the LOC's Veterans' History Project.
