Through World of Difference, Vodafone Qatar gives people the opportunity to receive funding to undertake projects to help the community and bring about positive change in Qatar. The projects can focus on any area, cause or social issue as long as it meets a local need and it is 100% non-profit.

This year’s programme, which features the Ramadan edition, will see Vodafone Qatar opening the way for participants to log into www.worldofdifference.qa until June 24, and enter their ideas of how they want to do good in the community during the holy month of Ramadan.

Vodafone Qatar will announce five winners on June 26 and will give QR30,000 to each winner. Every week, one winner will carry out their charity activity.

Dana Haidan, head of corporate social responsibility and sustainability at Vodafone Qatar, said: “We have picked the theme of charity for this year’s edition of World of Difference in line with the upcoming holy month of Ramadan, during which philanthropy is highly encouraged. In addition to being a first in Qatar, World of Difference is an innovative approach that scores highly versus traditional grant-giving leading the way to a different way of doing charity – not by simply donating money, but by sustaining people to fulfil their charitable projects by using their own skills, time and passion to
bring it to life.”

The programme, launched in 2011, awarded four individuals who helped address a number of social issues such as English language learning for migrant workers, and poverty in some areas in Qatar.

In 2012, the programme awarded two winners who helped disabled individuals in Qatar be engaged in sports through swimming and diving, and brought attention to the issue of animal welfare in Qatar.

In 2013, Vodafone Qatar selected three Qatari winners out of 150 applicants, a 35% increase in the number of Qatari applicants from previous years. Mohamed al-Kuwari, Salwa al-Kuwari and Mohamed al-Matwi received funding to develop, respectively, assistive informatics solutions and mobile technology, called Vodafone Eye, to help visually impaired individuals; a programme, called, You Shine, to help unlock youth’s potential and equip them with the right ethics and personal and professional skills; and a road safety awareness initiative, called Ahmeek, comprising a number of flash mobs and theatrical performances to engage the youth and draw their attention to the issue.

“The World of Difference campaign has clearly generated a great deal of interest, over the past few years, and this was demonstrated by the number of interesting proposals we received that showed how much people naturally are passionate about making a difference in the lives of others.” Haidan added. The application form can be found at
www.worldofdifference.qa.