Programs

• Global Schools Network
• Arabic Language & Culture Initiative
• STEAM
• Youth Engagement

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School Programs

The study of language and culture can bring the youth of nations together—especially given today’s technology and mobility—in a way that nothing else can. In light of the many deep misconceptions and barriers that lie between the United States and Arab peoples and cultures, it is extremely important that youth get as much encouragement and opportunity as possible to communicate across cultures.

QFI is taking the lead and attracting a range of partners to introduce Arabic language and culture into mainstream education through its ALCI School Programs. QFI receives guidance in this effort from its Arabic Language and Culture Advisory Group, comprising a number of leading American and Qatari experts.  We seek to improve the teaching and learning of Arabic language through improved teacher training, access to new curricula and materials, and in some cases direct support to school districts.

Other areas of ALCI include: ALCI Grants, Teacher Professional Development, Summer Arabic Program

To date, we have made mid-term commitments to the following public and public charter schools in the United States:

-      Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Texas

-      Bell High School, Granada Hills Charter High School and the Student

Empowerment Academy/New Tech at Jefferson High School in Los Angeles, California

-      Boston Arts Academy in Boston, Massachusetts

-      International High School of New Orleans in Louisiana
-      James Campbell High School in cooperation with OneWorld Now! in

Ewa Beach, Hawaii

-      Lee High School in Houston, Texas
-      Lincoln High and West Sylvan Middle School with Portland Public

Schools in Portland, Seattle

-      P.S. 368 and P.S. 261 in cooperation with Global Language Project in

New York, New York

-      Washington Latin Public Charter School and E.L. Haynes Elementary School in Washington, D.C.

We also support Arabic programs for public school students in Sao Paulo and Curitiba, Brazil in collaboration with BibliASPA (Biblioteca e Centro de Pesquisa América do Sul-Países Árabes; Arab and South American Library and Research Center). In 2012, we expanded our network of QFI-initiated Arabic school programs to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and additional cities in the United States.

In addition to the school programs, QFI has facilitated visits to Qatari schools for students studying Arabic in public and public charter schools in the U.S. The visits allow the opportunity for Qatar and American students to connect, participate in cross-disciplinary learnings, and learn more about each other's cultures.  Moreover, it lays the foundations for long-term school partnerships between principals, teachers and students. Learn about their experiences first-hand at The QFI Blog, where participants share their stories on cultural exchange, forging new relationships, learning Arabic, and more.

Students from the following U.S. schools have thus far participated in these QFI-facilitated trips:

-       Bell High School (Los Angeles, CA)
-       Boston (Mass.) Arts Academy
-       Boston (Mass.) Latin School
-       James Campbell High School (Ewa Beach, Hawaii)
-       Charlestown High School (Boston, Mass.)
-       Chief Sealth International High School (Seattle, Wash.)
-       Cleveland High School (Seattle, Wash.)
-       Dover-Sherborn High School (Dover, Mass.)
-       Franklin High School (Seattle, Wash.)
-       Granada Hills Charter School (Los Angeles, CA)
-       Hingham (Mass.) High School
-       Ingraham High School (Seattle, Wash.)
-       International High School of New Orleans (LA)
-       Lincoln Park High School (Chicago, Ill.)
-       Lincoln High School (Portland, OR)
-       Lindblom Math & Science Academy (Chicago, Ill.)
-       Milton (Mass.) High School
-       New Tech High School (Los Angeles, CA)
-       Washington Latin Public Charter School (Washington, D.C.)

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.