About This Initiative
The Open Society Youth Initiative works to identify, inspire, empower, and learn from a network of young, active citizens promoting open society ideals.

Debate Matters
Noel Selegzi
September 14, 2011
 BLOG  
The Open Society Foundations are launching a $20-million program to strengthen debate organizations at colleges and universities around the world. Our goal is to help engage students in policy issues that will have a lasting impact on their future.

9/11 at 10: Debating Security and Liberty
David Cole
September 1, 2011
 BLOG  
Constitutions are said to be written for times of crisis as well as for times of peace. As the Supreme Court said in 1866, the year after the Civil War ended, the U.S. Constitution is "a law for rulers and people, equally in war and in peace, and covers with the shield of its protection all classes of men, at all times, and under all circumstances." But is that in fact true? The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, tested this principle like no other event since World War II. Did the Constitution and its safeguards of liberty, privacy, and equality survive the attacks?

Youth Action Fund
The Youth Action Fund provides small grants and other support to encourage progressive, youth-driven initiatives that are aligned with the mission of the Open Society Foundations.

Youth Citizen Journalism
The Youth Initiative has sponsored a series of youth citizen journalism workshops to accompany the Moving Walls International documentary photography exhibit across the Middle East and North Africa.

Debate Programs Get $20 Million Boost on Campuses Worldwide
Press Release
September 14, 2011
As part of an ongoing effort to engage young people in policy issues critical to their future, the Open Society Foundations announced $20 million in funding to strengthen debate programs around the world.