Buenos aires: Qatar Foundation's Doha Debates, in collaboration with Qatar's Years of Culture, has launched its first Latin America town hall, titled 'How Should We Reinvent the City?' at Buenos Aires' Usina del Arte. The event gathered students from Argentina, Chile, and Qatar, along with global experts, to discuss the future of urban living.

According to Qatar News Agency, the debate was moderated by Malika Bilal and included contributions from Guadalupe Granero Realini, an urban economist and researcher at CIPPEC Think Tank; Akel Ismail Kahera, a program director and professor of Islamic architecture and urbanism at Hamad Bin Khalifa University; and Nicholas Boys Smith, the founding director of Create Streets (UK). The students provided questions and reflections, facilitating intergenerational and cross-cultural dialogue.

His Excellency Advisor on Latin America for the Years of Culture, Mohammed Al Kuwari, emphasized the significance of dialogue in Arab culture, describing it as central to community life and highlighting the importance of listening and learning in debates. Managing Director of Doha Debates, Amjad Atallah, remarked on the value of bringing students from different regions together, noting that such interactions cultivate serious questioning and mutual understanding.

Students expressed the impact of the program, with Jamila Al Humaidi from Qatar emphasizing the role of honest conversation in building connections. Camila Regueiro from Argentina shared that the experience was enlightening regarding cultural understanding, while Chilean student Javiera Eugenin Guzm¡n felt heard and reminded of the connections that unite different countries.

The expert panelists commended the students' participation, with Akel Ismail Kahera noting their maturity and understanding of sustainability and urban planning. Guadalupe Granero Realini lauded the students' fearless debating skills and their ability to challenge experts effectively.