As part of Reach Out To Asia’s (Rota) Ramadan 2015 Project, exclusively sponsored by Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY Qatar), local volunteers have been generously giving their time and effort to renovate the ‘Education For All’ (EFA) Preparatory School in Abu Hamour,  and improving the conditions of the classrooms.
Rota, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), supports QF’s mission to unlock the potential of youth leaders to build strong, sustainable communities. Its pioneering Ramadan initiative aims to raise local awareness of the value of volunteerism and community service, and is aligned with the Human and Social Development Pillars of the Qatar National Vision 2030.
Rota’s mission is to empower local communities, both here in Qatar and internationally, by providing access to quality education for those most in need. Over 100 Rota volunteers worked for six days at the EFA Preparatory School renovating four classrooms, which included cleaning, scraping, painting, and assembling and installing furniture.
Essa al-Mannai, Rota’s executive director, said: “Classroom’s are the heart of a child’s education, and without a safe, clean, and welcoming place to learn, we cannot expect children to make the most of their time at school. This school renovation is just one of the many local projects Rota undertakes to ensure young people are getting the best possible education they can, allowing them to go on to be fulfilled and productive members of our society. With a generation of well-educated and passionate children, we have a solid foundation for achieving our National Vision and becoming a prosperous knowledge-based economy.”
Rota chose the EFA Preparatory School for the Ramadan 2015 Project school renovation activity after its ICT for Education Department donated a number of computers to the school last year. The Bangladesh MHM School & College was renovated last year as part of Rota’s Ramadan 2014 Project’s school renovations activity last year.
Usma Paracha, principal of the EFA Preparatory School, said: “We are very grateful to Rota and its team of volunteers who gave their time to breathe new life into our school and classrooms. With their help we can give our children the education they deserve and inspire them to be the best they can be. Now our school is somewhere they can enjoy being and growing in.”
In the past few weeks, Rota has also successfully executed a full calendar of volunteering activities, including distributing bulk food items to families in need, community Iftars with labourers, and Garangao events with children in different hospitals.
The Ramadan 2015 Project was  made possible through the generous financial sponsorship from OXY Qatar and the invaluable support of Rota’s incredible volunteers, ensuring their contributions continue to reach those most in need during Ramadan.