Alf honours winners of 'Destination Imagination' 2024/25

Al Faisal without Borders Foundation (Alf) held an awards ceremony to honour the winning school teams in the 10th edition of the Destination Imagination programme 2024/25 academic year.

The programme, implemented by the Alf Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), has been running in public and private schools across Qatar for the past decade.

In his opening speech, Alf chairman HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani “expressed his delight at attending the ceremony to recognise the outstanding school teams that participated in the 10th edition of Destination Imagination”.

He emphasised the Alf Foundation’s commitment to delivering innovative programmes that foster the development of students' skills across all age groups.

HE Sheikh Faisal highlighted that the participation of international teams in this year’s regional championship is a testament to the programme’s success and Qatar’s excellence in its implementation.

He also extended his gratitude to the MoEHE for its continued support over the years, Qatar University for hosting the national championship for the third consecutive year, and all participating schools for their dedication.

Alf Foundation general manager engineer Abdullatif Ali al-Yafei “reiterated the foundation’s vision of leadership through programmes that enrich Qatari culture and share its rich heritage with the world”.

He noted that Destination Imagination is an internationally recognised programme implemented in over 30 countries and more than 50 US states.

Over the past nine years, it has impacted more than 30,000 students in Qatar’s public and private schools.

For the 2024/25 edition, 104 public and private schools participated, forming 222 teams with nearly 2,000 students from various academic levels.

This year also saw participation of student teams from Poland, competing alongside Qatar school and university teams in a special Destination Imagination challenge.

The local championship, held on February 14-15 at Qatar University’s College of Education, showcased the remarkable creativity and innovation of participating students.

Al-Yafei highlighted the programme’s role in integrating non-traditional learning methods into school activities, helping students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

He also noted that Destination Imagination serves as a platform to highlight Qatar’s rich culture and showcase students’ talents to more than 10,000 global participants in the programme’s international championship, set to take place in May in Kansas, US.

Al-Yafei extended his deep appreciation to HE Sheikh Faisal for his unwavering support, to HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed AlKhater for her continued endorsement of the ALF Foundation’s programmes, and to Qatar University president Dr Omar bin Mohammed al-Ansari for hosting the national championship.

Gratitude was also expressed to the judges, volunteers, and ALF Foundation staff for their contributions.

During her address, Maha Zayed al-Qaqa al-Ruwaili, the assistant undersecretary for educational affairs at the MoEHE, “emphasised the significance of this achievement, recognising the dedication of students in striving for excellence”.

She reaffirmed the ministry’s vision of "A Pioneering Learner for Sustainable Development", which aims to create an integrated educational environment that nurtures leadership, entrepreneurial thinking, and innovation, equipping students to make well-informed decisions and tackle future challenges.

Al-Ruwaili further noted that Destination Imagination aligns with this vision by fostering communication skills, creativity, and critical thinking, preparing students to navigate an ever-evolving world with confidence and competence.

School team leaders praised the programme for its impact on students, particularly in enhancing teamwork, imagination, and innovation.

They expressed gratitude to the Alf Foundation for providing a dynamic cultural and educational platform for public and private schools in Qatar.