Seoul, August 04 (QNA) - Qatar Museums (QM) received an international recognition though the Global Challenge for World Heritage Education Innovative Cases (AWHEIC) in its 2026 edition, after winning the Star of the Future award for its "Tamkeen: Empowering Arab Youth for Sustainable Heritage" Program, in recognition of the program's promising initiatives with the potential to advance heritage education.
Tamkeen was selected as one of 10 recipients in the Star of the Future category from nearly 90 applications submitted by institutions worldwide. The award was announced during the 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, at the World Heritage Education Towards the Future - Innovation of and for Young People event, held in Busan, Republic of Korea.
The recognition highlights Qatar Museums' leadership in innovative heritage education and youth empowerment, while reinforcing Qatar's role in advancing cultural diplomacy and the sustainable safeguarding of cultural heritage.
Led by Director of the International Cooperation and Government Affairs Department at QM, Dr. Fatema Hassan Al Sulaiti, Tamkeen equips Arab youth with the theoretical knowledge, practical skills and field experience needed to engage actively with their cultural heritage. The program is designed to deepen participants' connection to their identity and to prepare them to become active, responsible partners in its conservation, management, documentation and transmission. Tamkeen rests on the conviction that long-term sustainability in this field depends on investing in people and, above all, in young people as custodians of cultural values and stewards of what comes next.
Commenting on the recognition, Dr. Al Sulaiti said, "To see Tamkeen receive this prestigious international recognition is a moment of pride not only for Qatar Museums but for the State of Qatar as a whole. The initiative was created to develop innovative programs that equip Arab youth to become active custodians of our shared cultural heritage.
"We believe that investing in young people is essential to securing the sustainable preservation of heritage for generations to come, and we are honored that this vision has been recognized on the global stage. We hope Tamkeen will continue to open doors for young people across the Arab world and support a new generation of heritage professionals who can carry this work forward," Dr. Al Sulaiti added.
Introduced in 2021 by the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region (WHITR-AP), the Global Challenge for World Heritage Education Innovative Cases is a prestigious international initiative that recognizes innovative approaches to World Heritage education from around the globe.
WHITR-AP is a Category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO, established in 2008 to advance the conservation and sustainable development of World Heritage across the Asia-Pacific region.
Through the Global Challenge, WHITR-AP identifies and celebrates outstanding practices in World Heritage education, highlighting how young people and local communities can contribute to safeguarding World Heritage sites and passing on their values.
Qatar Museums remains committed to investing in young people and advancing innovative heritage education to build a sustainable future for cultural heritage, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030). (QNA)