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The Qatar National Library (QNL) is organising a discussion session as part of its 'Book Talk' series, titled, Wonder and Loss: A practical memoir for writing about grief on January 26.The session will feature British author and researcher Sam Meekings, who will discuss his new book of the same title.The book explores the author’s personal experience with loss, blending autobiography with honest narrative. It also offers a practical guide to writing, exploring how writing can be a tool for coping with grief, preserving memories, and rediscovering oneself through storytelling and reflection.The session will highlight the power of writing as a human means of expression and healing, and its role in transforming painful experiences into meaningful texts. It will also open a dialogue on the relationship between creativity and deep human emotions. 

The Doha Film Institute (DFI) will organise a Podcast Lab for English speakers from February 4 to 11, the DFI website announced. The lab allows participants, for beginner and intermediate levels, to master the art of audio storytelling via the lab's comprehensive podcasting programme.**media[400981]**Through dynamic workshops and expert mentorship, participants will develop essential skills in story development, recording, and sound editing while learning to create podcasts that captivate audiences. Industry leaders will guide participants through the complete podcasting ecosystem—from strategic marketing and pitching to funding models and audience engagement tactics.The lab will also allow participants to learn about the general podcasting landscape, as well as regional trends from podcast industry leaders and regional experts. To apply for the programme, visit https://www.dohafilm.com/en/learning-training/learning/workshops-labs/2026. 

Marking its 30th anniversary year, Qatar Foundation (QF) has unveiled The QF Generation: an immersive storytelling platform that sees 30 people whose lives have been shaped by QF relive their personal journeys, and how they are now making a difference in their fields and their communities. Over the past three decades, QF has nurtured a local, regional, and global community of people who are confident in their identity, open to the world, and equipped to lead and to drive positive social change. Many began their journeys in QF classrooms and research spaces; others connected with QF later in life through opportunities that shifted their path. Together, they represent a generation that embodies why QF was created 30 years ago. The QF Generation includes a limited-edition commemorative coffee table book and a digital platform containing 30 stories of how QF touches and changes lives. It features students, educators, researchers, innovators, and changemakers who grew, discovered, and found their purpose because of QF, and are now creating impact in many different ways across sectors, borders, and disciplines. Visitors can explore personal narratives that span early education, university life, research breakthroughs, entrepreneurial ventures, and unexpected moments of inspiration. Each story offers a different perspective, yet all reflect how QF has influenced their growth and how they, in turn, are shaping the world around them. Among those featured are Fatma al-Khater, the founder of Torba Market; Qatari filmmaker Amal al-Muftah; and Ousman Camara, a QF alumnus inspired by his Education City experience to create his own nonprofit organisation in Sierra Leone to support young people’s education and mental health. "In this very special year for a truly unique organisation, The QF Generation celebrates the people whose journeys have been shaped and guided by Qatar Foundation,” said Yousif al-Naama, chief executive officer, QF. “Their stories remind us that the true legacy of Qatar Foundation is not reflected in buildings or programs, but in the lives it has touched and the difference those it has empowered and inspired continue to make in the world.”

The Qatari Publishers and Distributors Forum, affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, in cooperation with the Children's Literature Center, launched the "Art of Writing and Illustrating Comics" programme. It aims to train participants in creating and executing comics that combine writing and illustration in a modern storytelling style.The programme is part of the "Children's Story Designer" initiative, within the framework of the Ministry of Culture's ongoing efforts to enhance literacy skills among the younger generation, striving to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims to build a learning and sustainable society based on knowledge and creativity.The "Comics" programme is designed for participants aged 12-16 and targets 15 participants. The project will run for three weeks. During the programme, participants will learn the stages of comic book design, starting with writing, then scene layout, character design, and full scene illustration. They then add effects and text, and finally, colour and inking, continuing to produce their stories until the final production stage.Jassim Ahmed al-Buainain, Director of the Qatari Publishers and Distributors Forum, explained the importance of the "Comics" programme, emphasizing that it is not limited to training children but is a genuine investment in the cultural future of Qatar. He stressed that the programme primarily aims to build a generation of authors and designers capable of producing innovative and engaging storybooks.**media[381079]**The director of the Qatari Publishers and Distributors Forum explained that this initiative opens up broad horizons for children, giving them the opportunity to explore the world of authorship in its various stages. Instead of being mere readers, children themselves begin writing stories from their own pure imagination and illustrating their comics, drawing inspiration from their surroundings and national values.Writer Asma al-Kuwari, director of the Children's Literature Center, said that the "Art of Writing and Illustrating Comics" programme is part of a series of initiatives implemented by the center in cooperation with the Qatari Publishers and Distributors Forum to promote reading and develop writing and literary and artistic production skills among children and young adults.She emphasized that the "Comics" programme aims to train participants in innovation and the creation of illustrated stories that combine writing and graphic design in a modern storytelling style. It also contributes to developing aesthetic sense, critical thinking, and the ability to narrate and express themselves both in writing and visually. She explained that the final products will be showcased to the public at the Doha International Book Fair.The "Children's Story Designer" programme is an innovative approach to teaching children and young adults the entire book-making process. Participants learn to write, illustrate, design, and market their stories independently, culminating in their publication in Qatari and Arab markets.