QF's inaugural QIYADA conference aims to empower Muslim youth through faith and leadership
Incoming students urged to embrace social responsibility and the values that have shaped QF's 30-year journey at Marhaba event Story 3 min read
The camp featured educational and interactive activities that foster life skills and enhance community awareness Story 3 min read
The agreements enhance students' university admission opportunities and expand academic collaboration in line with Qatar National Vision 2030
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
Student journeys at Education City spotlight leadership, community and spirit of service
Hanane Djoua Doha Two students at Qatar Foundation's Education City shared powerful reflections on their personal and academic journeys—stories that highlight how this unique educational ecosystem fosters leadership, compassion, and a sense of belonging that transcends borders. 'Assalamu Alaikum, and welcome to Education City,' began Najlaa Al Muhannadi, a senior at Northwestern University in Qatar, addressing the new cohort of students. For her, this moment carried deep meaning: 'I'm excited to share my QF journey with you, as it is truly a community that has shaped who I am and the way I understand leadership—not just as a title but as a choice to care, act, and be present for others.' Najlaa's relationship with Qatar Foundation began long before her undergraduate studies. Having spent all her school years at Qatar Academy, she credits the International Baccalaureate programme with instilling values of being 'principled, caring, and reflective.' Initially, these values seemed abstract. Over time, however, they became the lens through which she viewed the world and guided her actions. One of her most formative experiences was participating in the Ramadan Suitcase initiative in partnership with Qatar Charity. She and her peers collected donations, packed them into boxes, and delivered them to families in need across Qatar. Najlaa vividly recalls the day, saying: 'We drove into neighbourhoods where families were struggling, and as soon as we started unloading the boxes, people rushed toward the cars—not in panic, but with this mix of excitement and relief. We placed each box gently at the doorstep, tapped the door lightly, and stepped back. It was our way of saying, 'We see you, and we care.'' That experience, she said, left her with a profound sense of fulfilment. It was a simple act, but one that taught her what genuine compassion feels like. Later, at university, she carried this spirit forward through outreach activities with the Ajial Center, working with displaced Afghan families who had recently arrived in Qatar. This time, the effort was not just about providing essentials—it was about creating shared experiences. She and her peers organised activities such as shopping for clothes, choosing school supplies, and arts and crafts. They made friendship charms and exchanged paintings as keepsakes of each other's stories. 'There was laughter, curiosity, and a deep sense of connection,' she recalled. 'Kids who had once arrived with fear in their eyes were now smiling, running around, and proudly showing off their drawings. For a few hours, they weren't thinking about what they'd been through. They were just kids again.' For Najlaa, these experiences embody the values of Qatar Foundation. 'Leadership is rooted in compassion, presence, and action,' she said. 'We're meant to think globally, act locally, and lead with purpose.' Her journey, from placing a box of essentials at a doorstep to spending a day painting with families, has reinforced her belief that authentic leadership begins with small, intentional acts of care. 'These experiences have transformed me,' she added. 'They've made me more grounded, more intentional, and more confident in the kind of person I want to be. They've reminded me that no matter how overwhelming the world can feel, there's always something you can do, even if it's small.' Najlaa's message to incoming students was clear: 'Start where you are. Use what you know. Share what you have. Because authentic leadership begins the moment you decide to care and choose not to look away.' Jay Pacer: A Journey of Community and Growth Four years ago, Jay Pacer walked the halls of Multaqa as a high school student preparing for the national debate competition. He remembers grabbing lunch at Chickito, buying snacks from Al Meera, picnicking with his parents in Oxygen Park, attending Model UNs at Georgetown, and studying with friends at Qatar National Library. At that time, he was planning to return to the Philippines for his bachelor's degree. 'Yet here I am,' he told the audience, 'standing in front of you all, welcoming hundreds of freshmen who are about to begin their university experience.' Today, Jay is a rising senior at Georgetown University in Qatar, majoring in International Politics with a concentration in International Law. As someone who has spent 15 years of his life in Qatar, he describes the country as his second home. Initially, he was eager to leave. But what made him stay, he said, was not only the education or the opportunities—it was the community. 'Being a Hoya at Georgetown, and being a student of EC's multiversity, exposed me to things I didn't dare to imagine as a freshman. To say my experience changed me is an understatement. It transformed me,' he said. He cited the unique opportunities of the multiversity model: pursuing a certificate in Media and Politics, a collaboration between Georgetown and Northwestern University, and splitting his week between studying international law and analysing how platforms like TikTok influence foreign policy. 'That's what multiversity looks like in practice,' he said. For Jay, the multiversity is not just about academics but also culture, connection, and curiosity. From cultural nights that bring together students across Education City to cross-registration at different universities, to simply riding the tram to meet friends or study elsewhere, Education City offered him a sense of belonging. Even Georgetown's cafeteria, he joked, became a shared hub where students from across universities gathered. Beyond the classroom, he highlighted the Hiwaraat series hosted by Georgetown, where students engage in pressing global issues with experts and the public, and his experiences during the FIFA World Cup 2022, when he volunteered alongside peers from different campuses. Service has been a defining part of his journey. Through Georgetown, Jay has travelled abroad for extracurricular programmes, volunteered at food banks in Washington, D.C., tutored campus service providers in Doha, worked with migrant workers, and engaged in dialogues on labour rights. Earlier this year, he walked the halls of the International Criminal Court and the ICJ in The Hague as part of a class on international law. 'These experiences brought me face to face with the realities beyond the spotlight,' he said. 'They grounded me and taught me to better uphold Georgetown's values: service, justice, and reflection.' Reflecting on his time at Education City, Jay emphasised the personal growth it enabled: 'This place taught me how to simply become a better person, someone who listens more, who understands nuance, who is no longer afraid to ask hard questions.' He encouraged new students to embrace their own paths, whatever form they may take, saying: 'Your path may look different from mine. And honestly, it should. Maybe you'll join clubs I've never heard of, or spend your nights solving math problems, designing visual posters, or editing short films. That's the beauty of it: your experience is yours to shape. But wherever it takes you, I hope you say yes to it fully.' 'Welcome,' he concluded, 'not just to your university, but to your multiversity. Welcome to this wild, brilliant, challenging, unforgettable chapter. And welcome to Education City.' A Shared Message From Najlaa's acts of compassion to Jay's celebration of community, both students offer a shared lesson to Education City's newest cohort: that leadership, growth, and service are not abstract concepts but lived experiences. Whether through small gestures of care or global engagement, the journeys of these students demonstrate how Education City nurtures not just academic success, but the values of empathy, responsibility, and purpose that endure long after graduation.
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
QF's Earthna leads mangrove restoration
In the harsh heat and arid landscapes of Qatar, survival depends on adaptation and the country's biodiversity is uniquely suited to these challenging conditions. From tenacious desert plants like the Kaff Maryam, or Mary's Palm, to mangrove trees that flourish in coastal waters, life in Qatar's ecosystems is a delicate balance of endurance and resilience. To help protect them, Qatar Foundation's (QF) Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future, in collaboration with partners, has undertaken a five-year mangrove restoration project aimed at safeguarding critical coastal habitats. page 16
Qatar Foundation
2 days ago
- Qatar Foundation
QF's inaugural QIYADA conference aims to empower Muslim youth through faith and leadership
Sponsored by QIIB, the conference will enable young people to connect, inspire, and explore faith-driven solutions Related Stories Story 4 min read Incoming students urged to embrace social responsibility and the values that have shaped QF's 30-year journey at Marhaba event Story 3 min read The camp featured educational and interactive activities that foster life skills and enhance community awareness Story 3 min read The agreements enhance students' university admission opportunities and expand academic collaboration in line with Qatar National Vision 2030
