The gala dinner raised hundreds of thousands of riyals to ensure the organisation can continue to run its academic programmes in Qatar. “Building strategic partnerships with local and multinational organisations is a unique feature of the Injaz model. It is inspiring to see the business community invest in it so strongly through its financial and in-kind support of Injaz Qatar. I am confident Qatar has a very bright future ahead of it,” commented Francesco Vanni d’Archirafi, chief executive officer, Global Transaction Services, Institutional Clients Group, Citi and, chairman Junior Achievement - Young Enterprise Europe. The gala dinner, was attended by over 300 guests including senior representatives from the business and education sector from Injaz Qatar’s partners and potential partners. ExxonMobil Qatar Inc. was the sole Platinum sponsor of the event. “I would like to extend some very personal thanks to the 222 corporate volunteers who have been visiting Qatar’s classrooms since 2007. It is due to their dedication and commitment that we are able to celebrate our fifth year anniversary this year,” said Sheikha Hanadi al-Thani, chairwoman of Injaz Qatar. “Their work inspires me but more importantly, by sharing their expertise and enthusiasm they inspire Qatar’s students and encourage them to discover something new. Our objective is to raise additional funds to enable Injaz Qatar to reach our next 5,000 students,” she said. Since its inception in 2004, Injaz al-Arab programmes have reached more than 1mn students and engaged 10,000 volunteers across 14 Arab countries. In Qatar since 2007 INJAZ has reached 5,000 youth. “Tonight we recognise the culmination of five years of hard work by our team, five years of dedication from our supporters and five years of learning and experience among Qatar’s students. Coincidentally, this year we will reach our 5,000th student which for me puts things into perspective as the more students we reach the greater the impact we have on the future of Qatar,” said Aysha al-Mudehki, executive director of Injaz Qatar in her address to the gala attendees. During the celebration, the Qatar Chamber Orchestra played beautiful music pieces from Mozart and Vivaldi and the emerging stand-up comedian Mohamed Fahad Kamal performed one of his famous routines. The night ended with Khalifa Saleh Haroon, founder of iLoveQatar.net, sharing his experience of establishing the well-visited website. The gala dinner was also supported by gold sponsors, Nasser Bin Khaled and Qtel, Injaz Qatar’s strategic partners such as Hill & Knowlton, Grey, Red Dot and Q-Live Events and several silver sponsors: Al Balagh Trading, Al Darwish United Company, Al Salam International, Al Sheera Real Estate, Blue Salon, Credit Suisse, Commercial Bank of Qatar, Future Pipe Industries, MAERSK, Qatari Diar, QAPCO, Qatar Developmenmt Bank, Qatar Science and Technology Park, Siemens, Social Development Center, Silatech, SEIB Insurance and State Street . Gulf Times

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