As the coordinator of the Topical Talk Festival Initiative at Beit Hanoun Prep Girls School A in Gaza, I am proud to share the story of the tremendous global success achieved by our students. Despite facing numerous challenges, including academic pressures caused by the educational loss due to Covid-19 and interruptions in education for over two years, as well as problems with internet and electricity access, our students persisted in their love of knowledge and exploration.
Through their participation in the Economist Foundation's "Power of Perspectives" initiative, in partnership with the British Council, our students honed their skills in persuasion and creativity, ultimately earning first place in the topical talk festival. The school also maintained its title as a "Thought Leader", and several students, including Dana Shabat, earned spots on the honour board.
The experience not only helped our students develop their environmental awareness and communication skills but also reminded them that success comes from good preparation, hard work, and the ability to learn from mistakes.
In the beginning, we created a group on WhatsApp to explain what was required each week and held meetings to support the students. My students discussed new ideas generated from books, delving into other people's theories and researching local and international experts. However, this does not mean they could search easily, as the power outage and internet problems in Gaza due to the weak economy prevented them from achieving much. But we reached our goal and now earned first place in the topical talk festival, with our female students at the top of the honour board.
The Topical Talk Festival, supported by the Economist Educational Foundation and the British Council, was one of the best projects for my students. They gained environmental awareness about many global environmental issues, and their creative thinking, problem-solving, listening, and speaking skills developed. It also helped the students in their academic life and communication with the outside world, which gave them knowledge of the conditions of other countries.
Indeed, success stems from different factors and creates various achievements that benefit the participant and those responsible for the participants. The school's principal stated, "When you envision something with clarity, desire it with all your strength and determination, believe in it deeply, and work to make it a reality with relentless efforts, you will inevitably achieve it."
Sabah Al Saifi Coordinator of the Topical Talk Festival Initiative, Beit Hanoun Prep Girls School A, UNRWA, Gaza