Change And Diversity In Qatar

Haya Al Thani, Qatar

Haya Al Thani works for Teach For Qatar and previously worked as a teacher for two years.  As part of the GOALS program, Haya tells her story of falling in love with AC Milan (and Paolo Maldini), cultural changes in Qatar, and how she aims to make a difference in the lives of young girls.

Qatar has changed a lot in my lifetime, and at first, I resisted the change. My voice was quiet, but then I celebrated the diversity, and my confidence grew.

My name is Haya Al Thani, I am 32 years old, and I was born and raised in Qatar in a beautiful ‘fereej’ (district) called Al Nasriya.  I value respect above all, it should be the basis of every relationship. I appreciate honesty, courage, kindness, and compassion.

I take pride in being someone who always strives to make the world around me a better place. I used to jokingly say, “I wish I could make a difference,” until one day, it hit me: to make a difference, I have to start doing something meaningful that aligns with my values and allows me to give.

At twenty-seven years old, I became a teacher for Teach for Qatar. I loved being a teacher and supporting girls in education. I empathize with the age group 12-14, putting myself in their shoes. I tried to be someone I needed when growing up, someone to rely on.

Growing up, I was more outgoing at school than at home. At home, I loved reading stories and playing Mario Kart on the Nintendo 64. At school, I was vocal and expressive, but I did not have a teacher with whom I could share that. The teachers liked me because I got good grades, but there was never a personal relationship. Teachers would actively shut down my enthusiasm.

One day I was in English class in public school, and I suggested we start a drama club. I was so excited to present my idea to the teacher. I told her, and she completely shut me off; she said: “stop saying stupid things.” It was in front of the whole class. I felt utterly humiliated; I could not stop thinking about it for weeks.

As a teacher, I realized that the girls were looking up to me; what I said would influence them, especially as I was a teacher who looked like them.

I was relatable. I loved my job; teaching is the most meaningful thing I have ever done. Nothing can beat having a student say, “you’re the woman I want to become when I grow up”.

One memory that stays with me is when a student called Sara said: “My heart was broken when I did not see you yesterday.” I had not realized how important I was in her life. She reminded me of my 13-year-old self. I wondered, what does she need from me?

They are not just students; these are girls with real lives and I connected with them. It goes beyond the classroom; it is about life lessons - about issues that every girl faces.

Teaching made me a better person because I knew my girls looked up to me as a role model.

My teaching style was that I want to be there for the girls and make them feel safe. School is not always pleasant for kids; I wanted to create a safe space for my students. And if a student asked me for a drama club, I would welcome it and support it with open arms!

Eventually, I transitioned from teaching to recruiting and empowering teachers through Teach for Qatar. I also started a podcast with my fellow educator and friend, Yousra Shibeka, called "WHY: With Haya and Yousra", to increase the relatability of teaching. With the podcast and my job, I hope to have a more significant impact."

Growing up in Qatar, I lived in a bubble; the world looked like my neighborhood and school, and people looked and spoke like me.

But Qatar has changed; it is diverse in people, architecture, and culture. People speak different languages; people look different.

I remember when it was not very common to see girls in stadiums, and when girls-only schools did not have a football team.

I remember falling in love with football when I was 14 - through the screen! I had begun watching Italian football, it was 2002, and Paolo Maldini was a star. I supported AC Milan because they would wear red and black, the same colors as Al Rayyan. So when it came to the FIFA World Cup that year, I was an Italy fan! I had posters of Maldini, and I decided to learn Italian to impress him.

“Ciao, mi chiamo Haya. Sono il tuo fan numero uno!”

Hi, my name is Haya. I’m your number one fan!

Every football memory I have is attached to my family and my brothers. I think of the sleepless nights we spent praying for our team to win the Emir Cup. I think of us getting so many copies of the newspapers the day after that game to cut the photos and hang them everywhere. I think of watching my brothers play every Monday at my aunt’s house. And the time my mother called my grandmother to tell her “please pray for my son’s team. I do not want him to go to bed upset.”

With my photos I wanted to tell a story from the past. I became so attached to football because of my younger brother, so when I see his son, my nephew, with a ball, I am instantly taken back in time.

Mohamed, my nephew, owns an AC Milan kit that he got from me, and an Inter kit he got from his dad (who is an Inter supporter). His father and I have an unspoken bet called “who will be more successful in brainwashing the kid?”

Today things have changed for girls in Qatar, and the stadium crowd has gone from all white clothing to diversity. The color is beautiful. I believe education is so important in this societal change.

We are proud to host the first World Cup in an Arab nation. I was talking to my aunt, and she said, “I want to be there; I want to witness the World Cup.”

She is in her late 50s and does not have tickets, so I pushed back and said, “but you will be watching from behind the screen”.

She said, “yes, but I will be here.” This is the World Cup for her, and we are all part of it.

The World Cup aligns the world. I am proud we are hosting it this year and I believe now is the time for the Arab world to experience it up-close. Everyone likes to believe that their world is the default world; who is to say what the right way is?

While I do not approve of the unprecedented harsh criticism that Qatar is receiving, I do believe that there is so much room for growth (as there is everywhere.) Some things are already changing for the better, I hope they are permanent.  

The World Cup brings the world in all its color and diversity to one place. Beauty is everywhere; it’s all about how you choose to see things.

At the World Cup, everyone is welcome. I hope that people enjoy our generosity and hospitality as a nation. When I think of Qatar and hospitality, I think of warm memories I have observed over the years. Small exchanges of hospitality represent a much larger culture of hospitality.

“The chocolate is delicious!” 

“Here, have the entire box! I insist.” 

“Your perfume is amazing” 

“I swear on my life that you will take the bottle right now!”

This is Qatar, and I cannot wait for the world to get a taste of it. If you have any doubts, come, and we will change your mind. You might even go back with a box of chocolates or, even better, Qatari dates!