Global Connect
High School Program
Reframing our understanding of the Arab world; together.
Opportunity to connect with high school students from around the world that are invested in exploring the histories of the Arab world and shaping its future. Throughout 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.
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.
Current
Location
Students based in MENA, North America, and Europe.
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).
About the Program
Logistics
12 HOURS OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME
16 HOURS OF OPTIONAL OFFICE HOURS
2 HOURS OF 1ON1 COACHINGEVERY SATURDAY 90 MIN CLASSES ON ZOOM
EXPLORING THE HISTORIES AND CULTURES OF THE ARAB WORLD (PHOTOGRAPHY, MUSIC, FILM, LITERATURE)
PRODUCE A NEW PRESENTATION BY FOCUSING ON INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY, PUBLIC SPEAKING, RESEARCH, AND PRESENTATION SKILLS
Classes
The students will attend six 90 mins classes, every Saturday.
Telling our stories
Dismantling orientalism
Activating your interests
Research methodologies
Producing knowledge
Presenting ideas
Public speaking coaching
Online showcase & recording
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.
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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.
Instagram @mikey_mu | LinkedIn Michael Muhanna
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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.
LinkedIn Nisrine Shehadeh
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YASMIN KHAWAJA
AFIKRA LEARNING LEAD
Previously an afikra ambassador, Yasmin Khawaja now leads the High School Global Connect Project and community presentations coaching. Khawaja’s background is in tech startups, education, and spoken word curation. She has a Marketing BA from Birzeit University and a Masters in Education from Trinity College Dublin. She co-founded an open mic community in Palestine and is a Technovation mentor. Her education expertise is in curriculum development and teaching critical literacy.
Instagram @millennialvillager | LinkedIn Yasmin Khawaja
SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REACH OUT TO LEARNING@AFIKRA.COM OR HELLO@AFIKRA.COM