A special Ghabqa event organised by Reach Out To Asia (ROTA), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), has raised over QR 450,000 to help fund educational projects for young Yemini and Palestinian refugees.

The ladies-only event called ‘Ghabqat Al Khaier’, which forms part of ROTA’s 2015 Ramadan Programme, was held at the recently renovated Old Fire Station in Doha to showcase current fundraising projects and raise money for on-going initiatives.

ROTA is supporting QF’s mission to provide world-class education and nurture the development of progressive societies by addressing urgent social needs. Its Ramadan initiative aims to raise local awareness of the value of volunteerism and community service, and is in-line with the Human and Social Development Pillars of the Qatar National Vision 2030.

More than 100 locals from Qatar attended the event, which was held under the patronage of Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, Chairperson of ROTA. Many of Qatar’s leading business women, members of the Qatar Ladies Centre (QLC), that is also chaired by HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, and several high profile women from across the region came together to support the emergency needs of education for children suffering from disaster and displacement in Yemen.

Also in attendance was Her Excellency Doctor Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh Bin Nasser, a ROTA Board Member, who delivered a welcome speech to guests.

Commenting, Her Excellency Doctor Sheikha Aisha Bint Faleh Bin Nasser said: “We are honoured with the kind invitation of HE Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Al Thani to attend this Ladies Ghabqa, where we will all have the opportunity to support the education of the war-torn children of Yemen. We are here to help more than two million Yemeni children get back to school and obtain proper schooling. For this, I would like to extend my gratitude for all of those who made it possible thanks to their generous donations.”

In coordination with the Years of Culture Program Qatar-Turkey 2015, the Ghabqa evening included a silent auction, which saw guests place sealed bids for precious items with all proceeds being given directly to ROTA projects.

During the evening, there was a short presentation showcasing ROTA work, and Ghanim Al Muftah, ROTA’s Goodwill Ambassador, also made an appearance to speak to those present about his own personal journey and the work he now undertakes on behalf of ROTA to raise both awareness and funds for the valuable projects underway here in Qatar and overseas throughout Asia.

The alumni of the Qatar Leadership Centre (QLC) made a generous donation of QR 120,000 to support ROTA’s educational projects in Yemen and its other national programmes. QR 20,000 of this donation will directly support Ghanim Al Muftah’s campaign, #withyouwereach1million, with the aim of supporting young Palestinian refugees in Nahr Al Bared in northern Lebanon.

This welcome contribution was organised by several volunteers from the QLC alumni community. Commenting on the donation, the alumni team said: “We are delighted to be able to support ROTA in its 2015 Ramadan calendar, and to further the effects of its important humanitarian work, which is in line with the wise leadership of our beloved country, Qatar. Together, we are achieving this mission through supporting afflicted people throughout the Arab and the Islamic world.”

Meanwhile, television personality Lojain Omran, another ROTA Goodwill Ambassador, was also present during the evening following a recent trip to Indonesia to see some of the projects benefitting from this kind of fundraising in the region.

As well as hosting this unique event, ROTA has been staging many other charitable activities throughout Ramadan, including Iftars for construction labourers, school renovation projects and grocery donations; all made possible through the help of the ROTA volunteers and donations, ensuring ROTA’s work continues to reach those most in need during the Muslim Holy Month.

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QNE

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