Global Connect

DEVELOPED WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO’S
CENTER FOR MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES & THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
AT AUSTIN’S CENTER FOR MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES.

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REGISTRATIONS OPEN

Global Connect Cohorts

About The Program

The students will attend eight 90 mins classes, every Saturday.

Telling our stories
Dismantling orientalism
Activating your interests
Research methodologies
Producing knowledge
Identifying a research topic and exploring ideas
Building a compelling talk and presentation design
Final Session is the Capstone Showcase for qualifying select students.

Each class explores resources on a different topic such as photography, literature, architecture, history, visual arts, and music.

Through the course, students have the opportunity to build their leadership skills by selecting their own areas of research, developing a professional-style presentation, offering feedback to other participants, and networking with various professionals in the broader afikra community.

Course includes 12 hours of in-class instructional time.
Students have access to 16 hours of optional office hours and 2 hours of individual 1on1 Presentation and Research Coaching.
Classes take place every Saturday for 90 minutes via Zoom.
Student will explore the Arab world’s histories and cultures with in-class spotlights on photography, music, film and literature.
Each student will have the opportunity to produce an original afikra Academy talk by developing their intellectual curiosity, public speaking skills, research methodologies and presentation skills.

In order to participate, please complete your registration here before the first class. Note that the form will be required to you upload a photo or PDF of the signed Parent Consent Form by your parent or guardian.

This session will aim to get to know the students and introduce the course details to them.

As a global platform dedicated to fostering intellectual curiosity and cultural understanding of the Arab world, afikra aims to reframe the dominant narrative of the region. This session will explore the Arab world through a wide range of diverse interests, challenging "single narratives" by telling a multitude of stories and emphasizing community over exclusivity.

This session invites participants to explore the region with an open mind. We'll begin with a regional spotlight and frame our discussion around the concept of Orientalism, drawing on the influential work of Edward Said. Through a check-in and interactive conversation, we'll tap into individual interests and share ideas, building a foundation of mutual curiosity.

As a global platform dedicated to fostering intellectual curiosity and cultural understanding of the Arab world, afikra aims to reframe the dominant narrative of the region. This session will explore the Arab world through a wide range of diverse interests, challenging "single narratives" by telling a multitude of stories and emphasizing community over exclusivity.

This session sets the stage for your independent research journey by outlining our group norms and course requirements. We'll dive into the essentials of independent research, focusing on strategies for finding good sources and exploring regional spotlights to inspire your investigations. You'll learn how to develop an "Interest Focus" by identifying your passions and crafting compelling secondary questions. We'll also cover critical methods for evaluating sources, including checking domain names, author credibility, citations, and cross-referencing information. To put your new skills into practice, your homework will involve creating a TikTok video and scheduling office hours for personalized coaching sessions.

This session will equip you with the essential skills for creating impactful presentations. We'll cover the entire process, from content production and effective slide design to crucial presentation tips. You'll learn how to craft slides that convey one core idea with minimal text, ensuring clarity and audience engagement. Students will have the opportunity to refine their own slides and incorporate feedback, preparing them for their final presentations.

This session will guide participants through the foundational steps of creating a compelling presentation.The agenda focuses on the crucial stages of content production and the strategic development of presentation slides. We'll delve into the art of outlining a presentation and explore techniques for effective storytelling, ensuring your message resonates with your audience. To illustrate these concepts, a completed presentation outline on pearl diving music will be shared as an example. Your homework for this session will be to finalize the first draft of your presentation slides and schedule office hours for personalized support.

Get ready to shine! This "Dress Rehearsals" session offers a unique opportunity to refine your presentation and boost your public speaking confidence. We're inviting special guests from the afikra community and past alumni to provide invaluable feedback and personalized public speaking coaching on your first presentation draft. This is your chance to practice, receive constructive criticism, and make your presentation truly impactful before the big day.

The Capstone Showcase us a culmination of all your hard work and an opportunity to celebrate the incredible presentations from our qualifying students! This is your moment to shine, and we warmly invite you to bring your family, friends, and teachers to witness your remarkable achievements. Prepare to be inspired, as select presentations will be chosen to be featured on the Academy YouTube channel and in the afikra library, giving your work a wider audience and a lasting legacy. We can't wait to see your capstone projects!

Joyce Rafla

As afikra’s Manager of Global Learning and Engagement, Joyce develops learning journeys that spark curiosity and deepen understanding of Arab history and culture.
Drawing on years of experience in education, research, and strategy, she designs programs that connect global audiences to the richness of Arab thought and creativity. Her passion lies in building spaces where learners not only gain knowledge but also become part of a vibrant, questioning community.Joyce holds a Master of Education (Ed.M.) in Language & Literacy from Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) with a focus on early childhood education and assessment; a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Human Development from Teachers College (TC), Columbia University; and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the American University in Cairo (AUC).

Thank you!

afikra | عفكرة is a grassroots movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world's histories & cultures into an active intellectual curiosity. Everyone is welcome. Become a member!

New York, 10012 NY, US
hello@afikra.com

Global Connect

8 Week Online Course Designed for
Highschoolers to Reframe The Arab World

Get Free Global Connect Roadmap

OCT 24 - DEC 13

Start Your Global Connect Journey

Global Connect Fall 2025: Enrollments Open

Who Should Join?

Why Global Connect?

Global Connect Cohorts

High School Students

Virtual Exchange

Online Connection

About The Program

Classes

Bookmarks

Leadership & Career Prep

Logistics

Parent Consent Form

Orientation

Who are we? What are our stories?

Getting Curious About the Arab World

It All Starts With A Question

Going Down the Research Rabbit Hole

Presenting Ideas

Content Production

Dress Rehearsals

The Final Session: Student Showcase

Student Alumni Presentations

Joyce Rafla

Still have questions? Drop us a note, and we will reach out shortly.

Connect with us

Who we are

Featured links

Get in touch

Global Connect

8 Week Online Course Designed forHighschoolers to Reframe The Arab World

Get Free Global Connect Roadmap

OCT 24 - DEC 13

Start Your Global Connect Journey

Global Connect Fall 2025: Enrollments Open

Who Should Join?

Why Global Connect?

Global Connect Cohorts

High School Students

Virtual Exchange

Online Connection

About The Program

Classes

Bookmarks

Leadership & Career Prep

Logistics

Parent Consent Form

Orientation

Who are we? What are our stories?

Getting Curious About the Arab World

It All Starts With A Question

Going Down the Research Rabbit Hole

Presenting Ideas

Content Production

Dress Rehearsals

The Final Session: Student Showcase

Student Alumni Presentations

Joyce Rafla

Still have questions? Drop us a note, and we will reach out shortly.

Connect with us

Who we are

Featured links

Get in touch

8 Week Online Course Designed for
Highschoolers to Reframe The Arab World