Visitors view photographs taken by Rota volunteers during an auction at Mathaf yesterday.
BY RAYNALD C RIVERA
DOHA: Reach Out To Asia (Rota) has stepped up efforts to extend assistance to more countries when it comes to education, says Rota Board Member Dr Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh Al Thani.
“We have launched Reach Out To Arabia, so we are hoping to do a lot in countries like Yemen. We are already very active in Palestine, in Egypt and other places,” said Sheikha Aisha.
She was speaking on the sidelines of an iftar and auction event yesterday at Mathaf. Thirty-six photographs taken by Rota volunteers during their trips to other countries were auctioned at the event to benefit student scholars in Indonesia.
“This year, we are highlighting projects in Indonesia as it was hit by a devastating earthquake in 2006. Rota was able to man and equip two schools there and with this, we hope to do more to help that country,” she added.
Rota has also expanded their range of educational programmes in Indonesia to further enhance not only students but teachers and the entire community.
“We are currently doing teachers quality training programme to enhance the way teachers educate the students. We are also doing Indoartamiks which is about engaging the younger and older generations of artists in infusing the young generation artists and craftsmen to generate income for the local community,” explained Rota Executive Director Issa Al Mannai.
Al Mannai hailed the volunteers “who continue to inspire us. I urge them to continue doing good works. Volunteerism is not just about physical activity; it is also about sharing knowledge. You can see it today. With the click of camera they could raise funds to support students in Indonesia.”
All the photos which were auctioned were donated by volunteers engaged in international volunteer trips, conferences and activities here in Qatar, according to George Tavola, Rota Volunteer Programme Manager for National Programmes.
The fund that could be raised through the auction and donations would benefit up to 60 Indonesian students in the scholarship program which covers from a year to three years, added Tavola.
The event started last year in which about QR170,000 was raised including donations, said Tavola.
“This event is one way of generating funds for the programme and at the same time providing people an insight into the beneficiaries of this programme in countries across Asia,” he said, adding the photos were taken in Indonesia, Nepal, Cambodia, Tunisia and Qatar giving a whole spectrum of sights and sounds that Rota volunteers were exposed to throughout the year.
Rota has about a 1,000 volunteers, a third of whom are Qataris, he said, adding they encourage more Qatari participation providing them more opportunities to volunteer in the youth programme. The Peninsula
