- High School/Grades 9-12
RAK American Academy (RAKAA)’s Scheherazade Project brings together 10th and 11th grade girls from the United Arab Emirates and the United States to explore the role their female ancestors played in their lives.
The Scheherazade Project is designed to shine a light on the often-unwritten stories of women who make significant contributions to society. Participants learn the skills to interview their female relatives, such as mothers, aunts, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers, and to create an article, art piece, or other creative expression that highlights one of their relatives’ stories. While preparing their contributions to an e-book or local exhibition, the girls meet online to discuss their findings and discover the differences and similarities of their heritage and their current situations.
Activities
Students work with facilitators to develop skills in journalism, photography, arts and crafts, and information technology. After interviewing a chosen female member of their family, they use the material gathered to inspire a creative project such as a story, painting, craft piece, photo essay, or online game. These creative projects contribute to an e-book or a local showcase exhibition. Throughout the process, they collaborate virtually through Zoom to share, practice, and discuss the skills they are learning and the material they are gathering. Activities focus on collaboration to create an awareness of the similarities of their situations, despite their geographic distance. Collaborative projects are encouraged.
Program Details
- Number of Participants: 164
- Participant Age Group: High school/Grades 9-12
- Partners in the United States: Texas – Corrigan-Camden High School
- Project Duration: April 2022 to June 2023