Global Debate: News of Changes in Open Society Foundation's Support for Debate

I am not sure what this all means for debate but it is information that I have. - Editor

$20 million debate grant program is now closed.
http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/global-debates

Youth Action Funds program ended.
http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/youth-action-fund

From OSI to an applicant:

I write to inform you that the Open Society Foundations have decided a new approach is needed in how we work with young people around the world. As part of this process, the Youth Initiative as a distinct thematic program will be phased out and closed, with its most significant and promising work repositioned in other parts of the network, and remaining work responsibly concluded by the end of 2014.

...we are being careful about initiating new projects since the Youth Initiative's work is in this transitional process. We are reviewing all pending proposals and grants and will determine, on a case-by-case basis and with the senior management of the Foundations, whether any can be considered for funding. As soon as the review process has been completed, we will notify you of the outcome. We appreciate the work you've invested so far in the application process and thank you for your patience and understanding. We are working as effectively as we can to mitigate the impact of this transition on the prompt review of your grant. Open Society Foundations have long been committed to support for young people with vision and ambition for open society, and this commitment continues. The decision to wind down the Youth Initiative does not represent a reduction of our support for work with youth or the work of youth movements. In the future, we hope to integrate much of our youth based work into existing programs and foundations. On behalf of the Youth Initiative let me say how proud we are to have collaborated over the last decades with many hundreds of youth projects whose work-similar to yours-has collectively had an inspiring and important impact. No matter the outcome of our decision on your grant proposal, we would be happy to speak with you and offer suggestions on how to sustain your important work.

Status of Noel Selegzi.

http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/search?key=noel%20selegzi