DOHA: The Qatar Charity (QC) has set a new Guinness World record by collecting almost 30 tonnes of clothes for the needy. The 29.65 tonnes of clothes is more than doubled the previous record of 12.25 tonnes.
The global challenge took place over a period of 24 hours in the presence of representatives from Guinness Records and QC officials. The collected clothes will be distributed in Yemen, the Philippines and Central Africa.
QC already had a place in the Guinness World Records, with a record set last year for the largest voluntary fund, a special fund for orphans in Katara Cultural Village which collected sponsorships for 1000 orphans for a whole year.
The announcement regarding the record was made by Samer Makhlouf, Project Manager for the Middle East and Africa, in the presence of Executive Director of Department of Collections, Abdel Nasser Al Zahr Al Yaf’i, Executive Director for International Development, Mohammed Bin Ali Al Ghamdi, Deputy Executive Director for International Development, Ibrahim Moussa Zainal and Director of In-Kind donations, Abdullah Al Dosari.
QC held the event under the auspices of Aspire Logistics, who provided the venue at no charge, and with the participation of ‘Portrait’, ‘Happy Life’ and ‘Mission 20’.
“Qatar Charity has been able to beat its target of 14 tonnes of clothing with this event, which lasted 24 hours, thanks to the Qatari people, QC staff and supporters,” Yaf’i said, explaining that the previous record of 12.25 tonnes was set in Vietnam last year. The event included a special entertainment programme for children organised by the Happy Life Foundation which was open to families throughout the 24 hour event and involved the participation of a number of school students and staff.
Al Dosari said that the purpose of the event was to promote a culture of philanthropy and help the needy in various parts of the world, encouraging the involvement of the local community, schools and other institutions.
“We sought to collect 14 tonnes of clothing, enough to break the previous world record, but Qatari donors and benefactors surprised us, more than doubling this amount” he added, expressing his thanks to everyone who had contributed to the event including private sponsors, organisers, donors and schools who had brought along their students.
The event was part of an initiative to help the needy and low-income people in a way that preserves their human dignity, encouraging individuals and organisations to donate clothes, toys and household items that can then be distributed by QC as needed.
The project holds a ‘Taif’ charity market every month in Qatar with revenues distributed to low-income families. Twenty markets have been held to date.
The Peninsula
