''Swalif'' boosts Qatar, US cultural exchange

(MENAFN - Gulf Times) The ongoing Year of Culture Qatar – USA 2021 contains various events celebrating relations between Qatar and the US through cultural partnerships between American and Qatari organisations. The year-long celebration focuses on the primary contributions of Qatar and US to their respective and shared cultures in the fields of art, health, fashion, STEM, sustainability, business, sports, education, film, music, and entrepreneurship. The pandemic has been making it hard to carry out physical activities such as exhibitions, festivals, workshops, speaker programmes, trainings, and other events. However, social media and digital platforms have made it little easier for both sides to continue arranging programmes and exchanging cultural ideas and experiences. Swalif, one such programme, means ''to chat” in the Qatari dialect. In the virtual series organised by the US embassy in Doha, Qatari social media influencer Hamad al-Amari ‘swalifs’ with invited US experts on hot topics, including the US election system, mental health, media literacy, entrepreneurship, education in the US among others. Gulf Times recently spoke with Swalif host Hamad and one of his guests Rima Nashashibi, who is founder and president of Global Hope 365, a non-profit dedicated to the rights of women. They spoke about how the online programme has been useful in furthering the cause of the cultural year. About the show, Hamad said: ''Although Swalif was launched before the Year of Culture, it is predominantly a variety conversational series which promotes exchange of ideas and increases the opportunity for learning. I believe that dialogue is a pinnacle of any exchange of ideas. ''With the conversations not being limited to a specific topic, we really get the chance to explore and learn about different cultural practices and values in multiple industries.” Regarding the utilisation of Swalif, Rima said: ''We promoted Swalif through social media and direct e-mails to urge friends, family, and colleagues both in the US and abroad to attend. ''Feedback from various attendees reported that they have been able to learn about the upcoming Shura Council elections, getting introduced to the Qatari culture, and Qatari cuisine during the holy month of Ramadan by listening to the charismatic and witty host Hamad.” Asked how the diverse topics discussed during Swalif have been useful in promoting Qatari culture among the US audience, Hamad said: ''The reason we do not limit the show to a specific set of topics is that we want to reach a wider audience. ''If it is only a health and wellness programme for example, we will not be able to share our thoughts and ideas about entrepreneurship, volunteering, and understanding the American election process. ''I believe that now more than ever the format of a casual and friendly dialogue around any topic is the only way we can share and promote ideas.” Responding to the question on the significance of social media in connecting people during the pandemic, Hamad said: ''We are living in the era of social media and for any content creator or business or news agency it is essential to be on social media to get your messages out to the world. ''Platforms like Zoom allow us to work remotely and continue to develop our professional networks and relations during the pandemic and I believe it has made it so much easier to make new friends and meet people from all around the world. ''I personally still miss physical meetings, handshakes, and hugs, but I know that these will be back soon.” Asked on her views on the Qatar-US Year of Culture Rima, a known rights and political activist, said: ''The year of culture is to celebrate our dynamic cultures, enriched by the everyday contributions, dreams and aspirations of citizens, whether in journalism, social media, the arts, film, education, business, science, or otherwise. ''As the Founder of Global Hope 365, a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the safety and well-being of women and girls and combating human trafficking, child marriage, and gender-based violence worldwide through awareness, education, and empowerment, and as someone who has been engaged in the promotion of human rights (awareness) through political activism for several years now, I believe citizens have an important obligation to be part of the change they want to see in the world.” Regarding how she has been trying to introduce and highlight the US culture in Qatar, Rima said: ''I have visited Qatar frequently. I was here in 2008 where I met government officials, members of the Municipal Council, women leaders, and other organisations. ''I also conducted lectures at various colleges, universities, and high schools. Through taking part in the recent episode of Swalif, I shared my experiences running for office as an Arab-American, conducting political candidate training locally and in various Arab countries, and discussed the various leadership positions I held. ''What we also discussed are the various ways in which Arab and Muslim-Americans are engaged in various aspects of their communities and the fact that they are part of the fabric of American society. Civic activism is very much a part of American society and culture, and so I sought to dispel myths about America being closed off and xenophobic. ''On the contrary, with hard work and utilising the vast network of connections you build over the years, comes results, and every American, regardless of his/her religion or background, can build coalitions, advocate for their issues and have their voices heard. ''In addition, I was pleased to see my friend, the mayor of Irvine and the first Muslim-American woman elected as a mayor of a major city in California, attend the programme and share her journey.”      MENAFN28052021000067011011ID1102166367