A sophomore at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) has devised an effective and creative way to raise awareness on car safety and the dangers of irresponsible driving. Business Administration student Mohammed Al Matwi, along with some volunteers, has been conducting dramatic ‘flash mob’ performances depicting one of Qatar’s pressing problems which has taken many lives. “I felt that car safety is one of the issues that we are facing right now and that we should take action,” Al Matwi told the audience at the Doha Community Engagement Program (DCEP) recognition night yesterday. He is the winner of this year’s DCEP for his unique car safety campaign Ahmeek (I’ll save you). Through CMU-Q’s DCEP, students directly initiate and create programmes that enhance their community through engagement and raising awareness of a social issue.“Using flash mob theater is something different and attractive and an effective way to send the message,” Al Matwi explained. He believes the manner he has chosen in presenting the message to the audience would create more impact as “seeing is more effective than listening.” “I thought of using this method because it touches hearts and is more interactive with the community,” he said. For the project, Al Matwi recruited 20 volunteers to stage scenes on car safety and accidents through flash mobs which have been generating much attention in their campus. The scenes were inspired by articles from newspapers and other media. “There is high incidence of car accidents in the country and I believe it’s time for us to step up and take action to effect change,” said Aisha Fakhroo, one of the volunteers. Not only the audience but also the volunteers benefit from the campaign. “The volunteers live the experience, feeling the emotions that they show to the audience through the scenes. So both are influenced by the act- the volunteers who show the act and the people who see the act,” said Al Matwi. But the project does not stay in the confines of the school; he wants to take it to the larger community making it a sustainable project. “I plan to introduce this to the Doha community within the year,” he said, adding he plans to take it to schools, universities and public places such as malls and in addition use social media to make the campaign wide-reaching. “We are a small country and we should love, protect and care for each other and I believe through this campaign I can contribute to the community.” Source : Qatar Chronicle

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