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:

Feb 15 - apr 5

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

Final Virtual Showcase for select students on April 5th, 2024

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.

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