Youth Engagement
Young people are the next generation of world leaders, educators, decision-makers and citizens of the world. Through youth engagement projects, QFI aims to inspire action, nurture student-generated ideas, and encourage young people to come together across borders and cultures to address local and global problems and become globally competent citizens.
QFI’s youth engagement programs are an extension of the Arabic Language and Culture Initiative and support its mission. Learning a foreign language is only the first step in understanding another culture and becoming an active citizen of the world. QFI’s students are guided in inter-cultural communication, cultural sensitivity training, and leadership skills, so that their knowledge of Arabic be translated and incorporated into building their global competency. QFI’s Youth Engagement programs address the need to equip youth with the necessary skills to becoming full participants in a shrinking and increasingly interconnected world. These skills include investigating the world, understanding one's self and other perspectives and standpoints, communicating and exchanging ideas, and taking action to address pressing community and global issues. QFI fulfills this mission by supporting and promoting three main areas: Education, Leadership, and Service.
Student-Led Learning
QFI supports projects that mentor youth in their path of investigating the world, increasing their awareness of their immediate and more distant environments and communicating and articulating their ideas to their peers and communities.
Leadership and YALLAH (Youth Allied to Learn, Lead and Help)
At QFI, we believe that engaging with different cultures empowers youth and gives them the tools to become global citizens and future leaders. Through the youth-led initiative, YALLAH, QFI alumni can discuss, problem-solve and share their ideas and cultures online.
Service and Volunteerism
An important part of QFI’s youth engagement vision is developing a culture of compassion, service and action through community engagement and volunteering. QFI partners students with local organizations to help communities affected by poverty, illness, or natural disasters through volunteering and community service.
Videos
Madeleine Albright Visits Lindblom
Former U.S. State Secretary Madeleine Albright visited QFI's partner school, speaking about the importance of understanding other cultures.
YALLAH: Commit to Action
In April 2012, QFI selected 36 students from Brazil, Qatar and multiple cities in the U.S. for a youth leadership in Minnesota, done in partnership with the National Youth Leadership Council.
Concordia Language Villages
In summer of 2011, QFI established a partnership with Concordia Language Villages. 31 youth from 20 different schools attended 2 or 4-week sessions at Al Waha, the Arabic Language Village.
QFI / WeVideo Behind the Scenes
The video that launched SXSW Film, highlighting QFI student filmmakers who collaborated on short water films.
QFI Celebrates Foreign Language Week
QFI's Executive Director speaks about the importance of learning another language.
BtoQ Compilation Video
Check out all five "Brazil to Qatar" National Geographic student videos in one compilation.
"Women" during the BtoQ Exchange
Brazilian and Qatari students worked with National Geographic instructors during the Brazil to Qatar exchange to create a short piece on women.
"People and Nature" during the BtoQ Exchange
Brazilian and Qatari students worked with National Geographic instructors during the Brazil to Qatar exchange to create a short piece on people and nature.
Behind the Scenes at Brazil to Qatar: One World, Many Stories
A behind the scenes look at the #BtoQ exchange program that brought 22 high school students from Brazil to meet their counterparts in Qatar.
From Chicago to Doha: Connecting Cultures, Exploring Science
Learn about students from Chicago's Lindblom Math and Science Academy who went on QFI's exchange trip to Qatar.
Chicago2Doha Media Projects
39 students from 3 schools in Chicago and Qatar came together for the Connecting Cultures, Exploring Science trip. Students told their reflections of the trip through images, video and sound.
Glass Blowing at Chihuly's Studio: YALLAH 2011
QFI students in Seattle as part of the YALLAH cultural exchange trip in 2011 were invited to world-renowned glass blower Dale Chihuly's studio.
Sir Richard Branson speaks to Earth Day Qatar 2011
Earth Day Qatar 2011 was the premier event in the region, featuring speakers, discussions, workshops, and a special video message by Sir Richard Branson.
Meet our Brazilian students
Arabic Language and Culture in Sao Paolo - meet the Brazilian students and administrators of this program.
Crossing the divide
Watch as students from QFI partner schools in Washington DC and Boston tell their story of language learning and cultural exchange.
Our mission and the astrolabe
With its rich and varied history, the Astrolabe represents education, science, innovation and diversity. Highlighted in this video, these values underscore QFI's vision and programs.
QFI alumni students present at FIKR 9 conference
A diverse group of Arab and American students have been invited to highlight their youth-led initiative, YALLAH, on bridging cultures at the Arab Thought Foundation’s 9th annual FIKR conference this year.
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