Qatar Foundation International and GEEO Travels Qatar & Oman Educator Tour Spring 2020 Qatar Foundation International (QFI), in partnership with GEEO Travels, is pleased to announce a funded cultural immersion trip for up to twelve K-12 educators to Qatar and Oman from March 8, 2020 through March 21, 2020. Program Overview During this program, educators will explore the city of Doha, Qatar and visit renowned museums such as the Museum of Islamic Art, explore different ecosystems throughout the country and visit institutions to gain a better understanding of the country’s education system. After visiting Qatar, educators will travel to Oman to journey through the city of Muscat and enjoy the natural landscapes and history of the country including visits to the Wahiba Sands desert and Wadi Nahkr, known as the Grand Canyon of Oman. In-country guides will provide historical and cultural insights into both countries while group sessions will facilitate curriculum connections and discussion. Sites and Activities Please visit https://geeo.org/tour/springqataroman/ for full details of the trip. Oman (March 8-16, 2020) • Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque • National Museum of Oman • Bail Al Zubair Museum • Muttrah Souq visit • Mirani and Jalali forts • Bimmah Sinkhole • Sur dhow shipyard • Raz al Jinz turtle sanctuary • Overnight in Wahiba Sands desert camp • Mud houses of Misfat al Abyreen • Wadi Nakhr Qatar (March 16 – March 21, 2020) • Museum of Islamic Art • National Museum of Qatar • Qatar National Library • Tour of Al Jazeera Media Studios • Souq Waqif and the Falcon Souq • Tour of Education City • Education City Mosque • State Mosque • Katara Cultural Village • Dhow Cruise Pre-Departure Orientation Please note that there will be a pre-departure orientation in Washington, DC on March 8, 2020 prior to the departure to Muscat, Oman. Educators will arrive in Washington, DC the evening of March 7, 2020. Funding and Logistics (What’s Included) GEEO Oman Program Costs • The cost to attend the Oman portion of the trip through GEEO will be paid for by QFI minus the required $350 program deposit QFI Activities in Qatar • All activities in Qatar will be arranged and paid for by QFI 2 Airfare All air travel will be arranged and paid for by QFI including: • Airfare from home destination to Washington, DC and then Muscat, Oman • Airfare from Muscat, Oman to Doha, Qatar • Airfare from Doha, Qatar directly to home destination Lodging • All lodging in Doha, Qatar will be arranged and paid for by QFI. • All lodging in Oman will be arranged and covered through the GEEO Oman program costs. • Each participant will share a room with another participant in both Qatar and Oman. Meals • Some meals will be provided during the visit to Oman. Please see GEEO’s website for which meals will be provided. • All meals will be arranged and paid for in Qatar by QFI. Stipend: Meal & Ground Transportation • A $600 stipend will be provided by QFI (post-trip) to help offset the costs of the following: o Ground transportation to/from airport in United States and Oman o Meals not provided during the tour In-Country Ground Transportation • All ground transportation, including airport pick-up and drop-off, in Doha, Qatar will be pre-arranged and paid for by QFI • Trip participants will be responsible for arranging their travel to the hotel in Muscat upon arrival in Oman • QFI and GEEO will provide ground transportation to the Oman airport to depart to Qatar for the second leg of the trip Substitute Reimbursements • QFI will reimburse your school for substitutes for any schools days missed by your participation in this program 3 What’s Not Included GEEO Program Deposit • A non-refundable $350 deposit program deposit to GEEO is required to secure a spot on the trip if selected. Meals in Oman Not Covered by GEEO Program • There will be a certain number of meals that are not covered through GEEO’s program costs. It will be the responsibility of the selected participant to pay for their own meals. Please visit https://geeo.org/tour/winterqataroman to see what meals are included in the Oman portion of the trip. Visa Costs and Arrangements • Participants will be responsible for arranging and paying for their own visas to Oman Miscellaneous Costs • Funding for items including: o Souvenirs or other person effects o Travel health insurance o Optional tours or admissions not specifically pre-arranged in Qatar or Oman o Tips or gratuities o Cancellation Insurance Applicant Eligibility Applicants must: • Be a current K-12 teacher in a public or public charter school in the United States OR • Be a current primary or secondary teacher in a state-funded school in the United Kingdom • Demonstrate that he/she provides, or intends to provide, classroom instruction on topics related to the Middle East or Arab World Application Deadline Application Opens: Wednesday, November 26, 2019 at 5pm EST Application Deadline: QFI will close the application process upon the submission of 75 applications or on Sunday, December 22, 2019 at 11:59pm EST *If you have started an application but did not submit it prior to the submission of the 75th application, you will receive a notification email that the application is now closed and you will also no longer see your application in the system.* 4 Application Requirements In order to apply and submit your application you must complete and submit the following tasks: • Complete application in FluidReview • Resume • Lesson plan developed about the Middle East or with a focus on international studies • Signed letter of permission and formal approval from school administration or direct supervisor to attend the trip that includes the trip dates Acceptance and Program Deposit • Up to 12 educators will be accepted for this program. • If you are accepted into the program, you will then fill out the GEEO booking form and place a $350 deposit. How to Apply To apply, you must register in QFI’s Grants Management Portal, FluidReview, at qfi.fluidreview.com. Please create a user account and profile. Upon completing your login credentials and user profile, you will be required to take an Eligibility Quiz. This series of questions will determine whether or not you are eligible to apply for this program. After completing the Eligibility Quiz, please click on the green button at the bottom of your screen titled “View Grants”. This button will provide you with a list of QFI grants for which you can apply. If you are eligible to apply to this specific program, it will show on your screen. Please click on the “Apply Now” button to complete the application. *Please note that if you have applied for a previous trip through QFI and GEEO you must complete a new application for this trip* Contact Information Qatar Foundation International – Please direct all questions regarding the following to Craig Cangemi at [email protected]: • Application process in FluidReview • Questions regarding what is included and not included in the trip • All aspects of the Qatar portion of the trip GEEO – Please direct all questions regarding the following to [email protected]: • All aspects of the Oman portion of the trip (except for air travel) 5 .