DOHA: Twitterers attending the DohaTwestival last night were having a grand time enjoying live music by several bands and other entertainment in front of a makeshift stage at the Aspire Park where they also saw and read their twits flashed on a big screen. As around 8:30pm, the DohaTwestival twitter account was flooded by hundreds of twits mixed up with funny messages, calls for support and paging among friends delivering a message that the local social media gathering at the Aspire Park is a big success. DohaTwestival has joined over 160 cities from around the world with Aspire Park hosts for the first time the event aimed at raising much needed funds for Reach Out To Asia’s (ROTA) educational development projects. The event was supported by Qtel Virgin Mobile Service, Aspire Zone Foundation, Al Sadd Rent-a-Car and Qatar Happenings. It was indeed fun reading each other’s messages on Twitter while everyone were sitting either on a ground or in bean bags listening to live entertainment from their favourite local bands. The social media gathering was attended by a multi-cultural people from all walks of life in Qatar. Twits ranged from serious to jests and even funny experiences like someone’s almost missing a mobile phone, feeling so glad meeting long lost friends and new ones and even happy to be seen looking pretty to be highlighted on a spotlight and flashed on a large screen. “There’s no reason to be richest man in the cemetery. You can’t do any business from there. Donate,” says a serious message. “MADA Center is at #DohaTwestival.Tech for all regardless of disabilities,” says another twit from someone working at MADA Assistive Technology Centre. “Haha! I’m on the big screen…:) I’m so happy…, I’m so pretty..” says another. “Weather is cool but you have to have a jacket with it,” said another one. “I’m sitting on a bean bag feeling like a 15-year-old….” added another. The event was also the chance for those who came to access the free 24-hour wireless Internet provided at Aspire Park. The event was inspired by the incredible speed in which information is exchanged through social networking sites, in this instance by Twitter. By the time an idea forms and spreads, it can very quickly become a movement, motivating thousands. Organisers said in this case, the movement is designed to have a positive impact for ROTA, which was established in 2005, with a vision to create a world in which all young people have access to education they need in order to reach their full potential and shape the development of their communities. “ROTA is always eager to be part of innovative events here in Qatar. As such, we were enthusiastic to be the official charity for Qatar’s second Twestival. With proceeds going to our educational and community development projects, Twestival is the perfect event to help ROTA achieve its mission, to ensure that people affected by crisis across Asia have continuous access to education,” said Essa Al Mannai, ROTA Director

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