DOHA: Qatar Foundation International (QFI), a Washington, DC-based non-profit member of Qatar Foundation, has yesterday completed an educational exchange trip to Doha.
QFI’s exchange programmes are an extension of QF’s commitment to connect cultures and advance global citizenship through education.
Aber is an annual educational exchange programme that brings together students from the US and Qatar in an exploration of identity and cultures through the Arabic language and arts.
The nine-day trip included 30 American students from Oregon, Hawaii, Washington, Illinois, Kansas and Massachusetts states, as many Qatari students from Doha and 10 US and Qatari teachers.
The students came together to strengthen their Arabic language skills by learning about Islamic art, Arab culture and participating in service learning activities.
They took part in activities at Education City, home to facilities across the educational cycle, including a home grown university, research institutes and partner universities that are some of the world’s leading universities.
Students took part in an Arabic language scavenger hunt and toured Al Shaqab, an equestrian academy dedicated to the Arabian horse and the tradition of equestrian excellence, and learnt about equestrian culture, which is an important part of Qatari heritage.
They also attended a design workshop hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar and led by the Chair, Graphic Design at VCU-Q, Muneera Spence.
Students creates illustrated stories on culture and identity.
They also attended calligraphy and 2D geometry workshops at Museum of Islamic Art and explored the historic Naskh and Ruq’ah scripts and learnt about the role of 2D geometry in Islamic art.
The group toured historic and cultural sites and participated in a service learning activity by painting flowerpots, showcasing what they learnt at workshops, and planting them at the residential compound of Hamad Medical Hospital.
“Àber trip is always a rewarding and culturally enlightening experience for everyone – students and teachers, Americans and Qataris,” said Maggie Mitchell Salem, Executive Director, QFI.
“Our mission is to provide opportunities for students to learn and experience Arabic language and culture through connections with their peers in Doha and experience the Arab world for themselves, developing friendships halfway around the world.”
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