School pupils in their hundreds descend on KATARA Doha, March 21st 2010: Earlier today, hundreds of pupils from nine Doha schools took part in a joint schools visit to the Qatar Marine Festival (QMF) at Cultural Village Foundation (KATARA). Approximately 550 pupils and 50 supervisors spent three hours at the Festival this morning in a ‘private view’ before the attractions open to the general public. QMF at KATARA is open from 4pm until late every night this week until Saturday 26 March. The pupils descended on the Festival to sample the attractions and take part in educational and cultural workshops. Students took part in science workshops at Bajoor World, Baharna and the Marine Library. The Marine Carnival and Performing Siberian Seal attractions also provided a special showing for the pupils. While at the Festival, the pupils were provided with free beverages courtesy of one of QMF’s ‘blue chip’ sponsors, Ali Bin Ali Pepsi. Lunch was provided by sponsors Amwaj and the students also received special gifts to commemorate the visit. The nine schools that made the trip were: Al-Rifaa School, Sherbil School, Amr Ibn Al-Khattab School, Sallahidin School, Amna bint Wahab School, Mreegh School, Ibn Sina School, Al-Shaqab School and Um Al-Thaen school. QMF is the brainchild of Qatar Marine Festival Organising Committee (QMFOC), a not-for-profit body which organises year-round events to raise awareness of Qatar’s marine heritage among locals and expatriates alike. QMFOC Director of Communications, Rashid Al-Binali, commented, “We were delighted to welcome these hundreds of pupils from schools all over Doha to this ‘private viewing’ of the Festival and its myriad attractions. “One of the fundamental aims of the Festival is to raise awareness of Qatar’s marine heritage, especially among local youth. Bringing pupils here during the school day makes this a practical and enjoyable learning experience for the school kids. “For the pupils to have the place to themselves means that we can fully concentrate on giving them the most complete overview of the Festival without any distractions. For the pupils – and I speak from personal experience here – it’s always a bonus to get out of the classroom and see something new and exciting! “Sure, the Festival is trying to reach out to youth, but in truth there is something here for everyone. Six days of the Festival remain and to anyone even thinking of coming down to see what’s going on I would say this: get along to KATARA, you won’t regret doing so,” Al-Binali added.

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