Yemeni-British Connecting Classrooms project finishes its 1st year

Mr. Michael White with al-Khansa School’ students in a group photo

It is important for young students to exchange their views and ideas with others and to have the chance to learn how other students their age live their lives, said the Director of the British Council in Sana’a, Mr. Michael White, while he was at al-Khansa School last Tuesday, June 16.

The school recently held an event which exhibited the students’ activities through the Connecting Classrooms projects. As Mr. White added, this project will offer the Yemeni and British students the chance to know each other.

The Connecting Classrooms project started last year in two schools in Sana’a. One of them is al-Khansa School and the other is the British school, Upton by Chaster High School.

The project started when a group of chosen Yemeni teachers met British teachers at the British Council in Sana’a and then traveled to the UK where Teacher Jamila Dahaq showed pictures of her students, after which schools started to work together with the Principal of Chaster High School, Ms. Jane Holand, and the coordinating teacher of the project Ms. Sylvia Bezuit.

Work started immediately under the supervision of the Yemeni coordinating teacher of the project  Ms. Dahaq, who helped her students prepare their identity cards, gather pictures of Yemen, and pictures of themselves as well.

Al-Khansa School students worked on the project focusing on three main aspects of their lives. The first was focused on their school, which was showcased by taking pictures of them in their school, because as one student said during the event, “The school is another home for us”.

The second aspect focused on the students’ families. After Chaster sent their photo albums, the Yemeni students started to work on their own pictures where they expressed their thoughts about themselves and their families.

Ms. Dahaq exhibits her students work to Mr. White and Principal, Ms. Ibrahim

The third aspect that al-Khansa students shared focused on Yemeni architecture, where the students where taken on a tour of Old Sana’a, and especially to the Great Mosque. Eman al-Watari was one of the students who explained the unique architecture and great heritage that they see in Yemen.

The students of al-Khansa not only showed their many talents and high level of education , but also a noticed awareness of the issues their country faces, especially when the student Safa’a al-Watari expressed her willingness to do something about common misconceptions about Yemen, she said, “We don’t want to live in hate, it’s our world and we want to live in peace.”

Ms. Dahaq was very proud of her students, especially when Mr. White expressed his admiration of their high education level. She praised the role of the students, especially for their sense of responsibility, and asked the British Council administration if they could provide English scholarships to her students who exhibit a great desire learn.

She also praised the role of the al-Khansa School Principal, Ms. Wahebya Ibrahim, who believed in the project from the beginning and encouraged her even before she traveled to the UK.

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