QF highlights its role in education, global health and youth leadership at UNGA events

New York: Qatar Foundation (QF) emphasized its contributions to discussions on education, global health, youth leadership, sustainability, and Artificial Intelligence during its involvement in various events and dialogues preceding the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York.

Educators, researchers, and policy experts from QF's network took part in global conversations aimed at addressing critical issues and sharing Qatar's perspectives on fostering a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future.

WISE, QF's global education think tank, played a key role in advancing dialogue on the future of education, innovation, and skills development. Meetings facilitated by WISE brought together international partners, policymakers, and leading education institutions to explore new collaboration opportunities focused on shaping the future of learning worldwide.

Dr. Asyia Kazmi, CEO of WISE, highlighted at the Education Futures Forum that foundational literacy and numeracy rank among the most significant challenges in education today. She stressed that overcoming this challenge requires political commitment, targeted action, and effective teaching, asserting that children lacking these skills are effectively barred from future learning and opportunities.

In terms of youth empowerment, youth envoys from QatarDebate engaged in the 2026 Concordia Annual Summit, where they examined topics such as youth involvement in diplomacy, women's leadership, and emerging technology challenges, underscoring QF's dedication to empowering young people to actively participate in global discourse and decision-making.

Notably, youth envoy Noor Al-Thani moderated a session on women's leadership in the face of global uncertainties alongside distinguished international figures. Additionally, آAli Almawlawi, another youth envoy from QatarDebate, discussed the potential of AI to enhance accountability and peacebuilding, stressing the necessity of leveraging this technology responsibly to promote transparency and better decision-making.

QF also organized a dialogue titled "Tradition Meets Tomorrow" at Goals House in New York, focusing on the role of cultural heritage and ancestral wisdom in addressing contemporary global challenges, particularly in education and sustainability. Mashail M. Al Naimi, a Program Manager at QF's Policy Hub, emphasized that traditions provide essential insights for tackling today's challenges and serve as the foundation upon which innovation is built.

Meanwhile, in the realm of health and inclusion, the Global Autism Advocacy Coalition (GAAC), co-founded by QF, Autism Speaks, and UNICEF with World Health Organization (WHO) support, marked its first year since inception during the 2025 United Nations General Assembly. The coalition showcased its progress and unveiled new initiatives centered on workforce development, innovation, policy collaboration, inclusion, and regional implementation, aiming to scale evidence-based solutions and support individuals with autism globally.