Global Connect

Virtual Exchange for Highschool Leaders

Global Connect is a unique experience and opportunity to connect with high school students from around the world who are invested in exploring the histories of the Arab world and shaping its future. For eight weeks, students go on a learning journey connected to global peers and guided by our program instructors to explore the histories and cultures of the Arab World.

DEVELOPED WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO’S CENTER FOR MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES & THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN’S CENTER FOR MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES.

High School
Students

Current High School students (Ages 14-18) with an authentic interest in the Arab world’s histories & cultures can participate.

Virtual Exchange

Our students are based all over the world and will join virtually from schools in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, North America and beyond.

Online
Connection

Students will need access to a reliable internet connection and a computer (all work will be web-based, using Zoom and Google Suite Apps).

Upcoming Courses:

Oct 19  - Dec 14

90-minute virtual classes, every Saturday at 10 AM EST (NewYork Time) for 8 weeks.

Final Virtual Showcase for select students on Dec 14th, 2024

Perview the Course

Explore Arab Histories: Global Connect Preview Workshop

Date 1: September 14 • Date 2: September 28
Time: 10:00 – 11:30am (EST)
Location: Online on Zoom

Join us for a 90-minute online workshop designed for high school students passionate about the history and culture of the Arab world. Whether you're driven by heritage or a deep intellectual curiosity, this workshop offers a sneak peek into afikra Academy’s flagship program, Global Connect.

What to Expect:

  • Discover Global Connect: Learn how our 8-week course will deepen your understanding of the Arab world’s rich histories and diverse cultures.

  • Meet Global Peers: Connect with like-minded students from around the globe who share your passion for exploring and reframing narratives about the Arab world.

  • Interactive Learning: Experience a sample class, showcasing the engaging and thought-provoking content that makes Global Connect unique.

Who Should Attend:

High school students (ages 14-18) with a strong interest in the Arab world’s past, present, and future. This is your chance to see if Global Connect is the right fit for you before committing to the full 8-week course.

Why Attend:

This workshop is not just an introduction—it’s an invitation to join a global community of young leaders ready to make an impact. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to kickstart your journey with afikra Academy!

Seats are limited; secure your spot now!

Featured
Explore Arab Histories: Global Connect Preview Workshop | Sept 28
Explore Arab Histories: Global Connect Preview Workshop | Sept 14

About the Program

Logistics

  • Course includes 12 hours of in-class instructional time.

  • Students have access to 16 hours of optional office hours and 2 hours of individual 1on1 Presentation and Research Coaching.

  • Classes take place every Saturday for 90 minutes via Zoom.

  • Student will explore the Arab world’s histories and cultures with in-class spotlights on photography, music, film and literature.

  • Each student will produce an original Afikra Academy talk by developing their intellectual curiosity, public speaking skills, research methodologies and presentation skills.

Classes

The students will attend eight 90 mins classes, every Saturday.

  1. Telling our stories

  2. Dismantling orientalism

  3. Activating your interests

  4. Research methodologies

  5. Producing knowledge

  6. Identifying a research topic and exploring ideas

  7. Building a compelling talk and presentation design

  8. Public speaking coaching

Final Session is the Capstone Showcase for qualifying select students.

Bookmarks

Each class explores resources on a different topic such as photography, literature, architecture, history, visual arts, and music.

Leadership & Career Prep

Through the course, students have the opportunity to build their leadership skills by selecting their own areas of research, developing a professional-style presentation, offering feedback to other participants, and networking with various professionals in the broader afikra community.

Featured
Why is Assia Djebar an Important Literary Figure? [Student Presentation]
How is Art Part of the Palestinian Resistance? [Student Presentation]
How Did People Perceive Fairouz’s Music During the Lebanese Civil War? [Student Presentation]
What is the History and Culture of Storytelling Across the Arab World? [Student Presentation]
The Great Mansions of Beirut: What are Their Stories, & Who Did or Do They Belong to? [Student Presentation]
How Has the Arabic Language Spread & How Did It Influence Other Languages? [Student Presentation]

Meet the Instructors

  • Nisrine Shehadeh

    NISRINE SHEHADEH

    EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR

    Nisrine is an early childhood educator and educational instructor with over 15 years of experience at both the classroom and leadership levels. Nisrine's areas of expertise include inquiry-based learning, curriculum development, teacher training, and parent engagement. She is a graduate of the Teachers college at Columbia University and Hunter College.

    Nisrine was the afikra Learning Lead for the years 2021-2022 and helped develop the afikra Global Connect Program and lead the first Cohort of the program.

  • MIKEY MUHANNA

    AFIKRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Mikey Muhanna is the Founder and Executive Director of afikra. Muhanna is a former high school teacher, actuary, and investment quant. He is a previous Teach For America Corps Member and graduate of Duke University.

    Mikey has advised and worked with leading cultural and educational institutions in the Arab world such as Barjeel Foundation, Google Arts & Culture, University of Chicago, NYU Abu Dhabi, British Council, Columbia University Global Centers, Alserkal Advisory, Qatar Museums, VCUarts Qatar, The Arab American National Museum (AANM), Zayed University, and the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth.

SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REACH OUT TO academy@afikra.com