VCUQ students at Bayat School during their seven-day trip to Indonesia organised by Rota and supported by Vodafone Qatar.
DOHA: Twenty-five student and faculty volunteers from Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQ) are currently conducting workshops in book making, Photoshop, jewellery making, fashion design and fashion drawing for over 150 Indonesian students.
The workshops form an important part of the programme of their seven-day trip to Indonesia, organised by Reach Out To Asia (Rota) and supported by Vodafone Qatar.
“In addition to the benefits it has for the beneficiary community, it pushes the volunteers to get out of their comfort zone and envision a bigger role in society and the world, which is why we sponsored the International Outreach Programme as part of our five-year partnership with Rota” said Dana Haidan, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Vodafone Qatar.
Highlights of the trip include a visit to the famous Borododur, a Buddhist temple dating from the ninth century, and a visit to the Indoartamiks, a Rota-supported programme co-funded by Vodafone Qatar that works to build the capacity of Bayat School students, alumni, local craftswomen and artists through intensive training, workshops and experimentation.
In May 2011 and 2012, the Rota Volunteer Programme coordinated International Volunteer Trips for VCUQ students in collaboration with VCUQ Student Life. The trips were an overwhelming success, with both the VCUQ students and Bayat School students and staff requesting them to undertake the trip every year. “Both students and volunteers are having a great time and learning a lot from each other! It is a wonderful experience for everyone involved,” said Mohammed Abdulla Al Saleh, community department manager at Rota.
He said the trip provided volunteers the opportunity to develop communication skills, empathy and interpersonal relationships.
“Our programme is designed to immerse the students in the local culture and ensure they benefit from a positive learning experience throughout the visit,” said Marrakech Earbuckle, International Volunteer Specialist, Rota.
The Peninsula
