Sheikh Dr. Faisal Bin Fahad Al Thani
Like other activities, charitable and volunteer work has fallen within the crossfire of the health pandemic known as COVID-19 and recent mutations of the virus. Just as voluntary and charitable institutions affect communities and individuals wherever they are, they are undoubtedly affected by the crisis around them. But it is noticeable that volunteering activities face the current crisis with courage, perseverance and with a force that rejects failure to perform its roles as it carries a great message of giving to all humanity.
This is how it has high flexibility in re-centralizing its activities schedule in the presence of human energies, armed with human values, and availability of modern technology in providing various programs to reach the farthest point in society.
Perhaps the current health crisis has shown the way for boards of directors working in voluntary societies to push towards finding more effective work strategies to continue giving. This is exemplified by many of the trends that have strengthened their programs such as raising the professional capability of their members and enhancing their element of professionalism, especially with regard to the use of social media and provision of digital and video technology services to send educational materials of interest to the largest number of audiences.
From this standpoint, we say that positive-oriented training for the energies of the volunteers and the harnessing of “online” networks and programs to support communication effectively contributed to the sustainability of volunteer activities and the maintenance of work continuity without any interruption and that too with full commitment to all health protocols being followed in light of the ongoing crisis in the event of direct communication. Work continues in its usual dynamism despite the repercussions and developments of the pandemic.
To demonstrate the continuity of the community work approach, the charitable presence is prominent in the second annual exhibition of private institutions and associations supervised by the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs, which is set to be held on the twenty-fifth of February.
The exhibition is of educational character having other extensive activities and programs over a period of three days. The associations will provide educational lectures to the public on the latest applied techniques, modern theories and practical methods that will promote charitable and volunteering work according to the orientation and specialization of each participating association.
Such a charitable movement carries other connotations represented in strengthening the relationship between the private institutions and associations and between the local community with all of its members and families. It directly contributes to the generalization of aspects of interconnectedness and interdependence of knowledge among all relevant bodies.
Hence, it is necessary to point out the notable support provided by the Department of Associations and Private Institutions at the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs. Such support constitutes an important factor to maintain the sustainability of charitable and volunteering activities of private associations, and thus is in the interest of the greater community, which is the dear homeland.
(Author is the Chairman of Qatar Society of Petroleum Engineers)
