Qatar Foundation initiative selects 6 pioneering projects advancing education worldwide

Doha, Qatar, September 15th, 2022 — Six pioneering projects addressing global educational challenges have been recognized by WISE, an initiative of Qatar Foundation, for their positive contribution to education and society.

The WISE Awards aim to highlight projects that have demonstrated impact in their communities and have the potential to set international standards and best practices worldwide. Since the creation of the program in 2009, WISE has received over 4,900 applications from more than 150 countries.

This year’s WISE Awards winners are:

Opportunity EduFinance by Opportunity International is working to get more children into better quality schools with social finance in low- and middle-income countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Opportunity EduFinance first partners with financial institutions to provide technical assistance to launch and grow Education Finance Portfolios. It then invites partners’ school borrowers to join EduQuality, a three-year holistic training program designed to equip school leaders to run sustainable schools and increase the quality of education over time.

Educating for Wellbeing by AtentaMente focuses on adult social and emotional competency (SEC) development, to promote educators’ wellbeing and build caring environments in the classroom and school. This in turn, provides a protective learning environment for students. The approach combines professional educator training, a curriculum for students, leadership training, and resources to engage parents. In three years, 12,500 preschool principals, teachers and educational authorities have trained in EW.

Childcare Social Franchising by Kidogo was developed to support women as entrepreneurs to run their own early childhood centers, enabling young children to receive quality, affordable education and care. Kidogo is now the largest childcare network in Kenya, with 750+ franchises reaching ~16,000 children.

Remake Learning connects students with learning experiences that cultivate creativity and imagination not only in the classroom but anywhere in the community. It is a peer network of over 1,200 members, including school administrators, teachers, artists, librarians, designers and more. Remake Learning brings educators and innovators together to create learning opportunities that are engaging, relevant, and equitable for students - and then supports them as they navigate rapid social and technological change.

The Internet Free Education Resource Bank by Education Above All is a universally accessible collection of technology-free and low-resource requiring project-based learning resources, games and activities for an engaging and relevant student-led approach to learning. This adaptive solution has been used in different contexts, reaching 827,000+ learners in 14+ countries with 30+ partners, including marginalized learners in refugee settlements, remote rural communities, and underserved urban contexts.

Climate Change Problem Solvers by Reap Benefit Foundation developed the Solve Ninja platform to activate action-oriented youth and develop 21st century skills through local problem solving. Leveraging the power of grassroots mobilization, technology and action driven communities, 112,018+ Solve Ninjas have taken 94,000+ actions linked to climate and civic issues in India.

The winners of the WISE Awards will be celebrated in Doha in an exclusive ceremony held during the upcoming Doha Learning Days (DLD) festival in 2023. In addition to visibility and networking opportunities as part of the WISE Community, each winner will receive $20,000 (US).

For further information, visit http://www.wise-qatar.org/wise-awards.

About the WISE Awards:

Each year, the WISE Awards recognize and promote six successful innovative projects that are addressing global educational challenges. Since 2009, WISE has received more than 4,900 applications from over 150 countries. Up until now, 78 projects have won the WISE Awards, from a wide variety of sectors and locations for their innovative character, their positive contribution and their potential for scalability and adaptability. These projects represent a growing resource of expertise and sound educational practice. Year by year, WISE is building a community of educational innovators which offers a fertile environment for ground- breaking collaborations. Today the WISE Awards network comprises pioneering projects that are helping bring real change to societies and communities.

About WISE:

WISE was established by Qatar Foundation in 2009 under the leadership of its Chairperson, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. WISE is an international, multi-sectoral platform for creative, evidence-based thinking, debate, and purposeful action in education. Through the biennial summit, collaborative research and a range of on-going programs, WISE is a global reference in new approaches to education.

For more information on WISE you can visit: www.wise-qatar.org.

About Qatar Foundation:

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) is a non-profit organization that supports Qatar on its journey to becoming a diversified and sustainable economy. QF strives to serve the people of Qatar and beyond by providing specialized programs across its innovation-focused ecosystem of education, research and development, and community development.

QF was founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Amir, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, who shared the vision to provide Qatar with quality education. Today, QF’s world-class education system offers lifelong learning opportunities to community members as young as six months through to doctoral level, enabling graduates to thrive in a global environment and contribute to the nation’s development.

QF is also creating a multidisciplinary innovation hub in Qatar, where homegrown researchers are working to address local and global challenges. By promoting a culture of lifelong learning and fostering social engagement through programs that embody Qatari culture, QF is committed to empowering the local community and contributing to a better world for all.

For a complete list of QF’s initiatives and projects, please visit: www.qf.org.qa.

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