Teaching fellowships foster cultural understanding at Al Taqwa College

Obayda Kannouj, as part of her Teaching Innovation Fellowship (TIF) at Al Taqwa College, has curated a series of student videos aimed at connecting students with their cultural roots.

The project, titled CineCulture, allowed students with migrant backgrounds to explore their heritage through language and understanding.

In cases where families preferred not to be filmed, Al Taqwa teachers stepped in to role-play as parents, facilitating deeper connections between students, their school community and cultural backgrounds.  

The resulting videos capture the diverse cultural tapestry of Al Taqwa College, featuring families from Bosnia, Sri Lanka, India, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh.

These videos highlight the school's commitment to cultural preservation, education and celebration fostering empathy and understanding among its diverse student body.

Watch:

• CineCulture showcase - TIF project (embedded below)
• incredible student films

If you are a Teaching Excellence Program graduate or alum and are looking to further your knowledge and skills to be agents of change, fostering impact in school system improvement, you may be interested in applying for the updated Teaching Impact Fellowships. 

• Teaching Impact Fellowships to find out more and apply.

Please note: the 2025 Teaching Impact Fellowship is an update from the 2023 and 2024 Teaching Innovation Fellowship.