With ‘hope’ in such short supply, what an ‘untold story’ can remind us about the power of an idea.

Anyone who knows me will not be surprised to hear that I watched this episode of the ' ?#UntoldStories?of QF' with a big open heart as I learned more about the early vision that excites me as much today as it did when I first learned about the organization almost 15 years ago!

Qatar Foundation was established in 1995 with the idea of revolutionizing the landscape of education in Qatar and impacting the lives of many.?Stars of Science, the regions’ leading edutainment innovation show is just one of the hundreds of impactful outcomes of this idea & vision that went on to become a wheel of change and set a new benchmark for what Media as a force for good could deliver.?Instigated by Her Highness Sheikha Moza, the show was developed to shine a spotlight on the young scientists and innovators who had limited opportunities to be seen or heard on mainstream media in a sea of entertainment shows on offer.

Context matters…

With an abundance of factual entertainment and digital formats now on offer, it is easy to forget just how ahead of the curve QF's championing such a disruptive format by Arabs for Arabs in 2008 was. The show came at a time of reality TV's early peak, as shows like 'Big Brother' & 'Survivor' dominated the airwaves – and any google searches for Arab innovators would be more likely to signpost you to the polymath Ibn Firnas and the Islamic golden era then up to date role models – so believing in a new generation of innovators when no one else did, and deploying media as a force for good was a bold move and 13 years on has paid huge dividends, fostering a people-powered network the region can only be proud of.

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So many thought leaders, industry experts, ministries, community groups and specialists contributed to the show over the years from Qatar, the region and the world and generously deployed their wisdom and knowledge and guidance in the service of supporting the show's aspiring problem solvers who were able to tap into the type of expertise that money can't buy.?From the firm-but-fair Professor Fouad Mrad to amazing Dr Farouk El Baz – the supernova that is Ayah Bdeir, to sparks like Joost Alferink, and powerhouses like James Law and every single contributor who stepped into the studio?- I will always be forever grateful for how the show & the early ideas that led to it by QF's inspirational leadership, taught me about the power of collaboration and the magic that can happen when you unleash social capital & help 'unlock human potential' that drives change. I will always be forever grateful for the role that such an initiative has played in bringing pride and most importantly, HOPE to the region and a generation of change agents.

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With so many Alumni showing up from around the world in Doha this week as part of the Challenge and Innovation Forum, sharing new ideas and innovations alongside stories of resilience and hope – I have no doubt that the next 25 yrs will be just as impactful.