Doha: Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) is urging young individuals both in Qatar and around the world to apply for the sixth cohort of the Doha Debates Ambassador Program, an initiative provided by QF’s Doha Debates. This program aims to furnish participants with essential skills in intercultural discussion, communication, and consensus-building, empowering them to tackle global challenges and devise collaborative solutions for a sustainable and equitable future.
According to Qatar News Agency, the program is open to English speakers aged 18-26 who have stable access to an internet-enabled computer for video conferencing. Aspiring candidates must submit their applications by December 31, 2024, through the Doha Debates website at DohaDebates.com/Ambassador. To accommodate the month of Ramadan in 2025, the sixth cohort will be divided into two segments. Selected applicants will initially participate in a community of practice from January 21 to February 25, 2025, immersing
themselves in Majlis-style debate, systems thinking, and consensus-building techniques.
Participants will engage in weekly virtual learning sessions led by experts such as facilitation and intercultural communication specialist Dr. Brandon Ferderer and systems-thinking expert Jennifer Geist, alongside various international guest speakers. They will refine their skills through Doha Debates’ video series titled “Better Conversations.” Following the initial phase, cohort members will continue the program from April 1 to May 6, 2025, engaging in small team collaborations to produce a capstone project-a “virtual Majlis” designed to inspire, educate, and promote positive social change.
Since its launch in 2021, in partnership with Shared_Studios, the program has involved hundreds of emerging leaders from 50 countries across six continents. Participants have benefited from learning opportunities provided by international leaders and activists, utilizing dialogue and storytelling to appreciate the diverse perspecti
ves and beliefs of their global peers.
Amjad Atallah, Managing Director of Doha Debates, emphasized the program’s significance: “At Doha Debates, we foreground the concept of the Majlis-a welcoming, open environment for people to engage in truth-seeking dialogue about pressing local and global issues. Since its inception, our ambassador program has allowed young changemakers from all across the globe to create their own Majlis where they can generate collaborative solutions to the world’s most challenging problems. We’re proud to play a role in developing their capacity for thoughtful, brave, and compassionate leadership.” Alumni of the program remain actively involved with Doha Debates, participating in high-profile events and serving as mentors. Recently, several ambassadors facilitated group dialogue and collaborative art-making at Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s Summit of the Future: Hadaba Edition.
Wahed Shaik, an ambassador and student at the University of Doha for Science and Technology, shared his ex
perience: “Learning to facilitate dialogue has always been about forging deeper connections with others. My experience working alongside fellow students in the workshop truly illuminated the power of understanding and collaboration. I look forward to seeing future cohorts flourish in this transformative experience.”