Our Mission
Debate to Educate is a 501c3e non profit organization whose mission is to make debate virtually accessible and empowering on a world-wide scale. By creating a global community united in the spirit of competition and exploration, we aim to build a more empathetic and knowledgeable generation of learners and leaders everywhere.
Our Focus
Our goal is to foster a love for debate and an increased sense of personal agency in all of our students. We prioritize the cultivation of real-world practical skills that will allow our students to navigate through the world successfully and to advocate for their strongest beliefs.
Our curriculum centers on World School Styles debate. By using a variety of motions based on philosophy, sociology, and current events, WSS connects directly with students’ lives and fosters a well-rounded educational experience. Because WSS assesses competitors on content, style, and strategy, this format teaches debaters how to communicate effectively in ways that will serve them in all of life’s endeavors. We also teach Public Forum debate, so that our students may further develop their research skills and compete in a variety of events. Additionally, we offer Model UN in order to provide our students with a well-rounded education that incorporates elements of both competition and cooperation.
Our Tournaments
Debate to Educate utilizes a unique schedule that allows students from every country to compete together! Our tournaments are offered to both middle school and high school students. Unlike most tournaments, our time limits are flexible in order to increase accessibility. We also allow debaters to pause at any time to request for English translations or rephrasing. Our judges come from a variety of nations, challenging our debaters to tailor their arguments to an international audience.
Our Founder
Rachel Zubrin
Masters of International Development, American University
Rachel Zubrin has worked within the field of education since 2015. She has taught debate workshops across the globe, and she has coached numerous local and regional champions. Her primary formats of expertise are World School Styles and Public Forum debate.
Rachel Zubrin began her journey as a debate coach while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in 2017. She was immediately in awe of debate’s transformative powers on both an individual and institutional level. By practicing debate, her students became courageous, curious explorers of the world around them.
In 2021, Rachel began working at Writopia Lab. Through the mentorship of Rebecca Wallace-Segall, Rachel developed one of the world’s first globally accessible international debate tournament circuits. This tournament reached hundreds of debaters in over a dozen countries! Now, her mission is to provide tournaments and workshops on a regular basis, so that all debaters, regardless of location, may reach their full potential!