Abdelkader Student Contest

2025 Abdelkader Global Leadership Prize
Submissions are being accepted now!

Support Our Mission

Your donation will help us promote cultural literacy, civility, and understanding while reviving important lost history with relevance for today.

For Students

Expand your knowledge of the Emir by participating in the Abdelkader Global Leadership Prize contest for the chance to win a scholarship!

For Educators

Looking to change up your curriculum? Our free materials are available for use by educators in their classrooms.

Get Involved

The Abdelkader Education Project is a success because of people like you: Educators, students and community leaders.

About Us

The Abdelkader Education Project (AEP) was inspired by its namesake, Emir Abd el Kader. AEP began in 2009 as an organization committed to cultural literacy, civility and respectful engagement between all people through education and outreach drawing on Emir Abdelkader’s life story and value that transcend culture and faith traditions.

“If we want to strive for unity, then we must not be tolerant of our diversity, but instead accept it. Accept our differences, and realize there is more than one right answer. Try not to passively put up with others, but instead embrace them. If we all treat everyone as human beings and demonstrate the courage to accept them, then we all have a chance to right the world’s wrongs, create ethical solutions for global problems, and continue the Emir’s legacy.

— Shreya Joshi
2021 High School essay winner

"Abd el-Kader taught me that not all warriors cause bloodshed and not all scholars are passive. He directed me to believe they can be combined into a single being, and Abd el-Kader stands as an example of this. He represented a gallant and intelligent hero who cared about his people rather than his power."

— Reem Kirja
2021 Middle School essay winner

“I believe that if [Abd el-Kader] were more celebrated and spoken about, especially here in America, he could help with the plight that many Muslims growing up in the West face with their faith and give them a chance to exist as three dimensional beings, rather than harmful stereotypes.”

— Mayada Alwan
2021 High School essay winner

Latest News

Announcing the 2022 Abdelkader Student Prize Winners!

The Abdelkader Education Project (AEP) is pleased to announce the results from our annual Abdelkader Student Prize competition. This competition is presented by AEP in partnership with Iowa National History Day and open to the middle and high school students across the U.S.

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Up Next

2021 Better Understanding for a Better World – Iowa Outreach Program

With domestic challenges facing American society today, the escalating tone of division in a rapidly diverse America could and should be addressed constantly through “Religious Diplomacy and The Art of Outreach.” This diverse environment mandates that clergy and community leaders receive constant training to successfully interact with various communities. Combining Theology, Spirituality, and Diplomacy has not been easy, but it is feasible.

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Better Understanding for a Better World

Despite a surge in social media, people still lack the face-to-face dialogue needed to foster understanding, respect, compassion and cooperation amongst the various nations and communities of our ever-so-intricate world.

AEP invites high school students to join us for the FREE 2021 BUBW virtual conference on October 21-21, 2021 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm CST daily.

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