Education Above All (EAA) foundation, through its programme Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) recently partnered with Qatar University (QU) to send 20 of its male students on a twelve-day volunteer mission to Tunisia, as part of its International Volunteer Trips programme.

National vocational training programmes designed to respond to the needs of dropouts fall short of meeting the needs of young people in that area, where both literacy and job readiness are generally much lower.

There are over 130,700 hectares of public, forested land, covering around 42% of the governorate. These forests are rich in raw materials, which after collection and transformation, have high economic value. There is also a large potential for eco-tourism in the region.

In collaboration with in-country partner Mercy Corps, ROTA volunteers worked with a local Ain Draham community youth group, to develop and establish an eco-tourism trail. The ‘Ain Draham Trail’ will serve as a recreational attraction for visitors and tourists looking for a safe and enjoyable experience in nature, as well as offer a sustainable source of revenue for the local community.

Activities included, identifying locations and setting up signage for start and end points, waypoints, building bridges, kiosks, fences and rest areas in different locations within the forest using natural resources, information boards, as well as organising a formal launch for the trail.

Essa Al Mannai, Executive Director, ROTA, said: “The International Volunteer Trips programme provides an extremely rewarding experience for our youth, who are given the opportunity to learn about a different culture and enhance their leadership and interpersonal skills. Returning home to Qatar, they serve as ROTA ambassadors who inspire other young people to play an active role in the development of their communities.”

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