Qatar Foundation Alumni: Driving the future of Qatar

Doha, Qatar: As Qatar Foundation marks 30 years since its founding, its alumni are testament to its vision: creating lifelong learners equipped to lea...

Doha, Qatar: As Qatar Foundation marks 30 years since its founding, its alumni are testament to its vision: creating lifelong learners equipped to lead Qatar into its next chapter of innovation.

Balkees Ahmed AlJaafari, an Iraqi graduate of Qatar Foundation (QF) partner university Northwestern University in Qatar, has spent the last three years transforming English education at Al Bayan Primary First School for Girls through Teach For Qatar.

“I heard from friends who graduated before me about how they enjoyed being in a school, not just teaching English, but giving back what they learned at QF to the students,” says AlJaafari.

What sets AlJaafari apart is how she has incorporated her communications background into teaching. Inspired by her university courses, she launched a screenwriting competition at her school. “I wanted to experience teaching differently. Whenever we had free time, I would teach them about screenwriting, how to imagine and think outside the box,” AlJaafari explains.