The project aimed to improve debate club sustainability through three core objectives: stronger recruitment and retention, better event organisation capacity, and permanent support structures. We sought to help clubs build stable memberships through structured onboarding and engagement practices. We aimed to make tournament and event organisation more consistent and accessible by sharing best practices, tools, and cooperation models. A key goal was creating constant support mechanisms, especially alumni involvement, to preserve institutional memory and guide new boards. We also aimed to increase board motivation by making leadership more manageable and rewarding through shared resources and international exchange. Finally, the project strengthened cross-border cooperation between debate communities, enabling knowledge sharing and long-term resilience across clubs.
We applied for this project to strengthen the sustainability and continuity of university debate clubs in Estonia and the Netherlands, where frequent board turnover and lack of experience often weakened club operations. Many societies struggled with stable recruitment, long-term member retention, and reaching diverse student groups. New boards regularly lacked practical knowledge, which reduced activity levels and limited opportunities for young people to participate in debating. Event organisation, especially tournaments, was inconsistent due to missing procedures and lost know-how. There were also few permanent support mechanisms to guide new leaders. The project addressed these needs by focusing on continuity, skills transfer, structured recruitment and retention practices, and stronger support networks, ensuring that debate clubs remain accessible, stable, and valuable platforms for youth participation and civic skill development.