Qatar: Qatar Museums (QM) has received international recognition through the Global Challenge for World Heritage Education Innovative Cases (AWHEIC) in its 2026 edition, earning the Star of the Future award for its "Tamkeen: Empowering Arab Youth for Sustainable Heritage" Program. This accolade acknowledges the program's promising initiatives that have the potential to advance heritage education.According to Qatar News Agency, Tamkeen was chosen as one of 10 recipients in the Star of the Future category from nearly 90 applications submitted by institutions worldwide. The award was announced during the 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee at the World Heritage Education Towards the Future - Innovation of and for Young People event, held in Busan, Republic of Korea.This recognition underscores Qatar Museums' leadership in innovative heritage education and youth empowerment, while reinforcing Qatar's role in advancing cultural diplomacy and the sustainable safeguarding of cultural heritage.L ed by Director of the International Cooperation and Government Affairs Department at QM, Dr. Fatema Hassan Al Sulaiti, Tamkeen equips Arab youth with the theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and field experience needed to engage actively with their cultural heritage. The program is designed to deepen participants' connection to their identity and prepare them to become active, responsible partners in its conservation, management, documentation, and transmission. Tamkeen is built on the belief that long-term sustainability in this field depends on investing in people, particularly young people, as custodians of cultural values and stewards of the future.Dr. Al Sulaiti expressed pride in the program's international recognition, emphasizing its significance not only for Qatar Museums but for the State of Qatar as a whole. She highlighted the initiative's role in developing innovative programs that equip Arab youth to become active custodians of shared cultural heritage. Dr. Al Sulaiti added that investing in young people is crucial for the sustainable preservation of heritage for future generations and expressed hope that Tamkeen will continue to open doors for young people across the Arab world, supporting a new generation of heritage professionals.Introduced in 2021 by the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region (WHITR-AP), the Global Challenge for World Heritage Education Innovative Cases is a prestigious international initiative that recognizes innovative approaches to World Heritage education globally.WHITR-AP is a Category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO, established in 2008 to advance the conservation and sustainable development of World Heritage across the Asia-Pacific region. Through the Global Challenge, WHITR-AP identifies and celebrates outstanding practices in World Heritage education, highlighting the contributions of young people and local communities in safeguarding World Heritage sites and passing on their values.Qatar Museums remains c ommitted to investing in young people and advancing innovative heritage education to build a sustainable future for cultural heritage, aligning with Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030).