US Students Arrive in Doha as Part of a Cross-cultural Exchange Trip

Doha, April 18 (QNA) - A diverse group of students from cities across the United States arrived in Doha today as part of a cross-cultural exchange trip that connects Qatari and American youth, sponsored by Qatar Foundation International (QFI).
The American students, teachers and chaperones hail from public schools in Boston, Massachusetts; Honolulu, HI; Chicago, IL; and Seattle, WA. They will be joining their Qatari counterparts from Qatar Independent Secondary School for Girls and Omar bin Al-Khattab Educational Complex for Boys.
The group will explore Qatar, participate in educational and leadership activities, practice Arabic, and connect with their Qatari peers. Last Spring, QFI launched the cultural exchange program as part of their Arabic language and cultural initiatives in two urban public high schools in the United States: the Washington (D.C.) Latin Public Charter School and the Boston Arts Academy. This year the program has expanded to include Arabic language students in Honolulu, Chicago and Seattle.
"It is extremely important that youth get as much encouragement and opportunity as possible to communicate across various cultures to recognize that differences should be respected, not divisive," said Maggie Mitchell Salem, Executive Director of Qatar Foundation International. "We have seen first hand with our past exchange trips the profound impact they have on students and teachers and the positive and sustainable cross-cultural relationships that result." (QNA)