TWO finalists in Cambodia’s Youth Leadership Challenge will square off tonight in a televised debate on CTN for the chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the United States, organisers said at a press conference Tuesday.

In its sixth season, the challenge – more commonly known as “Best Youth” – is organised by the Youth Council of Cambodia and the International Republican Institute (IRI), with funding from USAID.

The debate, which airs from 5:45pm to 6:45pm, pits contestants Te Sivann, 23, from the Royal University of Phnom Penh, against Seng Virak, 24, of the Royal University of Law and Economics – the last of a field of eight participants that began the challenge in July.

“The [Best Youth] programme is a way to promote leadership among youth,” said John Willis, country director for IRI, at the press conference.

Also attending the press conference, Seng Virak said education is essential to helping young people develop leadership skills, while Te Sivann said sexual abuse, child labour and drug use all hindered development within the Kingdom.