(MOFA) - Qatar Committee for the Alliance of Civilizations launched the Alliance of Civilization award in cooperation with Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, during an event that was held on Sunday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The award will be presented for the year 2019 at the level of educational institutions that implement outstanding programs, activities and projects that promote a culture of dialogue and respect for others, and those that instill the spirit of coexistence between the people of the Qatar community including citizens and expats. This comes in hope that secondary schools react to the discovery and encouragement of practical talent and to foster the spirit of scientific research among students.

HE Foreign Ministry Secretary General Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al-Hammadi and vice president of the committee said the award comes in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and Qatar's Second National Development Strategy (2017-2022) in addition to Qatar's plan for civilizations' alliance (2017-2022). He explained that the award covers all the programs, activities and different projects in four priority areas of alliance of civilizations: education, youth, migration, media, including the launch of encouraging awards for researchers and students. The award is the result of cooperation between the Qatar Committee for the Alliance of Civilization and Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, he said.

His Excellency said the award which will be given this year to distinguished research aims to develop youths' writing skills, instill the concepts and contents of the Alliance of Civilizations, as well as encouraging students to provide the best research in various areas of the Alliance of Civilizations, and to honor the distinguished secondary school students in Qatar.

On her part, Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science Secretary-General Dr. Hamda Al-Sulaiti said there are several schools affiliated with the Alliance of Civilizations award, which are part of the commission's programs to promote dialogue among civilizations. Since 2016, many projects and training workshops have been completed, she added.

Dr. Al-Sulaiti said the objective of the award is to promote scientific research between schools, create communication networks, promote dialogue between students as well as the commission's keenness to promote dialogue between the divine religions.