Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Education Above All Foundation will participate at the EAA Foundation's plenary under the title “Education In Times of War”, will raise global awareness for the Gaza crisis. The session will focus on educational recovery, trauma, psycho-social emotional learning, and the profound impact of AI on advocacy for education and human rights. Distinguished speakers include Professor Jeffrey Sachs, UN SDG Advocate; Dr. James Gordon, American author, and psychiatrist; Ameera Harouda, journalist from Gaza, Mo Amer, a Palestinian Netflix Actor, Athar Ahmed, and Randa Al Dawoudi, Al Fakhoora students.

Speaking at the WISE opening plenary Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Education Above All Foundation, said:“I want to ensure WISE is a platform for new ideas that keep pace with the changes taking place in the world, and the obstacles that education faces in certain countries for reasons of which we are all too aware. There is no alternative but to innovate if we are to find solutions to intractable problems.”

Speaking about the ongoing crisis in Palestine, Her Highness spoke of the work of EAA’s Al Fakhoora program over two decades: 
“Since the start of the current Israeli aggression in October, 36 Education Above All supported schools and universities have been completely or partially destroyed. And so, Israeli forces have destroyed so much that has been accomplished by the Al-Fakhoora program. With the collapse of each school and each university, we lose a pillar in the foundation of the future. For every child deprived of education because of violence, another pillar is lost.”

Another key highlight of WISE 2023 is the celebration of Educate A Child (EAC)'s 10 Years Anniversary under the banner "Re-Ignite Action to Transform the Lives of Those Left Behind." The event commemorates EAC's achievements in reaching millions of out-of-school children over the past decade. The celebration aims to showcase the positive impact of EAC's focus on enrolling primary-level out-of-school children, motivating further commitment to this cause and emphasizing the ongoing need for innovative solutions to ensure access to primary education.

Speakers include The Gambia Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, H.E Claudiana Ayo Cole; World Bank, Global Director Education Luis Beneviste; Vanessa Pacheco Manjarrés, Strategic Alliances Professional, FPD, Colombia; and Nhial Deng, Refugee, youth Advocate & former EAA beneficiary among others.

Led by Innovation Development, a programme of EAA, the "Artificial Intelligence in Education: Early Innovations Showcase" promises a dynamic exploration of organizations at the forefront of leveraging AI in education. Additionally, ROTA, another EAA programme, will host an intergenerational dialogue discussing critical elements required to transform and 'green' education in response to the global climate crisis, fostering holistic learner competencies.

Furthermore, the "Artificial Intelligence and Access to Higher Education" session, led by Al Fakhoora program, will examine AI's pivotal role in providing inclusive, equitable access to higher education for marginalized communities. Silatech will lead a discussion on leveraging technology, AI, and creative industries for youth economic empowerment.

In a unique showcase, EAA Foundation will exhibit the imposing Al Fakhoora House structure, a recreation of the Al Fakhoora house in Gaza which was bombed last month. Through immersive videos, the Foundation will highlight its unwavering commitment to a future were education triumphs over adversity.

EAA Foundation will also pay tribute to its impactful projects in Colombia through the Colombian Gift Shop. This space reflects a homage to traditional Wayuu village schools in Colombia, capturing the cultural essence of communities touched by EAA's innovative work in Cartagena.

As EAA Foundation spearheads these influential sessions, WISE 11 promises to be a forum for impactful dialogues, responsible decision-making, and a celebration of milestones in global education.

For more information, contact:
Mohamed Al-Amri
Senior Media Relations Specialist 
Education Above All
Email: msalih@eaa.org.qa
Mobile: +974 5000 9960