Doha, Qatar: The Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, a global education and development organisation, launched its participation at the 12th edition of the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE 12) with four sessions that explored evidence-based solutions to expand access to education, empower young people, and strengthen social and economic resilience.
Under the theme “Humanity.io: Human Values at the Heart of Education,” the sessions underscored the Foundation’s commitment to ensuring equitable, innovative, and human-centred learning environments worldwide.
Al Fakhoora and PEIC Programmes, in collaboration with University of Oxford and Bard College, opened with a compelling discussion on how young people affected by war, conflict, and displacement are using education to reclaim agency, protect identity, and rebuild their communities.
The session highlighted EAA’s commitment to expanding higher-education pathways, strengthening psychosocial resilience, and amplifying youth-driven advocacy.
The session featured Jonathan Becker, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Bard College, Dr. Christos Kypraios, Lead of the Oxford Crisis Education Programme at the University of Oxford, and Luisa Romero, peacebuilder and activist with 8 years of experience in conflict transformation and youth-led peacebuilding in Colombia.
The session was moderated by Alaa Abhari, Al Fakhoora student at Bard College specialising in Human Rights and International Law.
The Reach Out to All (ROTA) Programme showcased global models of climate-resilient education, drawing on EAA-supported projects with UNDP in Uzbekistan, UNICEF in Zanzibar, and the Girl Child Network’s Green Youth 360 initiative in Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps in Kenya.
The session demonstrated how localised, community-driven climate education approaches equip young people with the knowledge, innovation, and leadership skills needed to address complex environmental challenges.
The session included Niina Kylliäinen, Regional Climate Advisor at UNICEF MENARO, Dennis Mutiso, Deputy Director of the Girl Child Network (GCN), and Abdulla Al-Abdulla, Executive Director of EAA Foundation Monitoring and Evaluation. George Tavola, Senior Engagement Manager, moderated the discussion and also featured contributions from Mila Lukic, CEO of Bridges Outcomes Partnerships.
EAA Foundation’s Innovation Development Programme led an insightful exploration into how embracing failure as a learning tool can drive stronger, more scalable education solutions.
The discussion examined why many educational pilots fail to grow beyond small-scale implementation and showcased how iterative design, community-based adaptation, and evidence-driven refinement can lead to more equitable and sustainable models.
The panel featured Mr. Netsanet Demewoz, Deputy Director of Education at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Saurabh Singh, Director of State Programs (Uttar Pradesh and Bihar) at Mantra Social Services and Stefaan Vande Walle, Global Strategic Education Advisor at VVOB - education for development. The session was moderated by Janhvi Maheshwari Kanoria, Executive Director of the Innovation Development Programme.
The final session of Day One centred on transforming Qatar into a leading regional hub for social investment into global education and employment.
Organised by EAA Foundation, Educate A Child International, and Qatar’s Ministry of Finance, and supported by global partners such as Bridges Outcomes Partnerships and Citi Social Finance, the session explored how impact-driven capital can unlock scalable, sustainable education and economic-empowerment opportunities for vulnerable youth around the world.
The discussion brought together Jorge Rubio, Global Head of Citi Social Finance, Hamad Al Hajri, Director of the International Cooperation and Financial Agreements Department at Qatar’s Ministry of Finance, and Ali Al Sobai, Chief Operations Officer at EAA. The session was moderated by James Shaw-Hamilton, CEO, Educate A Child International.
Mohammed Al Kubaisi, CEO of Education Above All Foundation, said: “Today's sessions reflect the essence of our mission at Education Above All Foundation, ensuring that education protects, empowers, and creates real pathways to opportunity for every child and young person. Through discussions on civic agency, climate resilience, innovation, and social investment, we are demonstrating how bold ideas, evidence-based approaches, and cross-sector partnerships can transform systems and strengthen communities. These sessions reaffirm that when education is centred on human dignity, it becomes a powerful force for recovery, resilience, and long-term development.”
Through its Day One sessions at WISE 12, the Education Above All Foundation reaffirmed its global mission to champion inclusive, human-centred, and innovative education.
By fostering cross-sector partnerships, elevating youth voices, and showcasing scalable solutions, EAA Foundation continues to drive forward a vision where every learner, especially those most marginalised, can access opportunities, build resilience, and shape a future of possibility.
As a side activity at WISE 12, visitors were also invited to explore the EAA Foundation booth, an immersive, multi-room journey that brings to life the Foundation’s mission to take learners from education to meaningful employment.
The booth guides visitors through four interconnected zones showcasing EAA’s core pillars: access to education, youth empowerment, protection in conflict, and pathways to economic opportunity.
Through the real-life stories, visitors experience the transformative impact of EAA programmes across the learner’s journey. The space features interactive classrooms, global impact displays, conflict-affected learning environments, and showcases of youth livelihood initiatives through ROTA and Silatech.
Elements such as the “Weaving Tomorrow” installation and a library façade of global country books further highlight EAA’s worldwide footprint and collective action.
