Qatar Foundation International Brings Students From Three Continents to Colorado

Doha, March 11 (QNA) - Qatar Foundation International (QFI) has selected 11 outstanding students from three continents to attend the Annual National Service Learning Conference in Denver, Colorado, to explore how youth along with educators, policy makers, and community leaders can make real-world change. The theme of the conference is Without Limits, and is hosted by the National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC), in partnership with Earth Force. Hailing from Qatar, Brazil and the United States, the QFI students will both attend the conference, which runs from March 13th to 15th, and also engage in a supplementary program specifically organized for them to learn how to design, prepare and launch a service-learning project on their own. Additionally, three students who participated in last year s conference will mentor the new students and assist in facilitating the training led by NYLC staff. The mentors, all alumni of QFI programs, developed their own service project topics last year, which included establishing an interfaith dialogue group in Seattle; forming a feminist literary magazine to inspire young women around the globe, and creating a cross-cultural library in Sao Paulo to spread more knowledge about the Arab culture in the Brazilian community. Five students from Qatar Leadership Academy who participated in a service-learning project providing school supplies and aid to Sudanese communities by working with local organizations in Sudan will also be presenting their project on a panel. In addition, the trip will be a valuable opportunity for the American, Qatari and Brazilian students to learn from one another, share experiences and build strong friendships. Students will visit cultural and educational sites in Denver, and learn about the history of the area, including exploring gold mines and a scavenger hunt using GPS technology. The NYLC conference is considered the largest gatherings of youth and adults involved in the service-learning movement since its establishment in 1989 in Minnesota. The conference has always been an attraction for students from all around the globe and annually nearly 2,200 attendees join the conference to develop their leadership skills and learn how to successfully implement their project service ideas in their communities. "QFI was very impressed with the service-learning projects proposed by our high school students and college-age alumni from the US and Qatar. I am excited to see these young people lead service-learning projects and present them to a major conference of their peers" said Maggie Mitchell Salem, Executive Director of QFI. "We are providing the support they need to take action and engage in their local communities". (QNA)