Programs

Programs /

Global Schools Network

QFI’s Global Schools Network of Qatari, American and Brazilian middle and high schools promotes dialogue between administrators, teachers and students and provides them with the financial and administrative support to experiment with new teaching techniques and resources. Existing QFI school partnerships have produced a number of important projects in the areas of STEAM, ALCI and student and teacher exchanges affecting hundreds of students. In January of 2011, QFI doubled its School Network with ambitious plans to expand exponentially in 2011-2012!

QFI addressed the need for greater financial and administrative support by initiating the Global Schools Network that:

• Harnesses the collective knowledge and experiences of the students and teachers from across the globe in the areas of Arabic Language and Culture Initiative (ALCI) and STEAM to identify the common problems they face in education and, together, generate solutions to meet these challenges; and

• Connects schools in the Americas and Qatar in the areas of Arabic Language and Culture (ALCI), STEAM, and youth engagement around projects of common interest through face-to-face meetings and programs, online discussions and Telepresence conferences; and

• Provides students with life-long memories, peer relationships, exposure to different cultures and motivation to continue investigating the world’s diversity of perspectives. Through school exchange programs, students learn about the advantages and opportunities of being globally competent citizens.

QFI will commit financial resources and administrative support to teachers within our Global School Network.

Being a part of our Global Schools Network means:

1) Accessing opportunities to participate in QFI’s student and teacher exchanges to experience and learn about different cultures and work on projects with peers across the world

QFI organizes exchange programs related to Arabic Language and Culture, STEAM and youth engagement. These exchanges typically involve cross-cultural exchange trips, but also include a series of other projects, such as Telepresence debates, or programs such as the Peer Educating Peers (PEP), and Classroom to Classroom (C2C) online, collaborative learning platforms.

QFI has also organized professional development workshops for Qatari teachers in the United States and American teachers in Qatar.

Exchange trips: The exchange trips typically consist of bringing American and Qatari students and teachers together in the United States or Qatar for 7-10 day experiences. The trips are a part of larger exchange programs that connect American, Brazilian and Qatari schools around Arabic Language and Culture, STEAM or youth engagement themes and projects that start before the trips and are continued during and after the trip. The students have the opportunity to present their final projects at youth or science conferences.

The themes and focus of the trips included, among others Summer of Science and Service (2009), YALLAH: Explore Your Potential (2010), Connecting Cultures, Exploring Science (2011).

2) Joining a global community of teachers and students linked through QFI’s platform

We strive to link teachers and students involved in our programs using appropriate cutting-edge technology. QFI’s Arabic, STEAM and youth engagement projects reach hundreds of people in the United States, Qatar and Brazil. Many of the teachers and students in our programs share common needs and value exchanging knowledge with their counterparts from across the world. QFI’s student and teacher online platforms, YALLAH and C2C (currently under development) will provide a space for communication and collaboration on teaching and learning materials and techniques.

3) Gaining access to QFI’s network of partners

As a grant-making entity, QFI does not have the capacity to develop and execute projects without strong local partners. We have established a network of partners to strengthen and sustain our programmatic work. Our partners are experts and practitioners in their respective fields who provide advice and key recommendations on how best to maintain programmatic efficiency, relevancy, and innovation. The schools in our network have access to the expertise and experience of our partners for the purpose of project development, support and implementation.

Videos

The Road to Doha

QFI's Road to Doha program helped train and bring together youth from Qatar, the U.S., Brazil and Argentina to better understand and develop solutions to critical global issues and to more effectively raise environmental awareness.

The Future We Want

In June 2012, Youth Ambassadors for Science and the Environment traveled to Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Caravelas and Abrohlos National Marine Park before heading to Rio+20 Earth Summit.

YALLAH: Commit to Action, Minnesota

QFI selected 36 students from Brazil, Qatar and the U.S. to participate in the National Service-Learning Conference held in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Madeleine Albright Visits Lindblom

On April 10, 2012, Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright visited QFI's partner school, Lindblom Math and Science Academy.

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.