Reach Out to Asia (Rota) has co-ordinated an international volunteer trip, sponsored by HSBC, for 20 Qatar University (QU) students to Indonesia as part of its ongoing efforts to provide underprivileged youth in Asia with access to quality education.
The Rota-QU volunteers facilitated workshops for 200 students from grade 1 – 6 at a school in the village of Bayat, in Yogyakarta province. Workshop topics focused on sport for education, computer literacy, cultural exchange, Arabic language, and environmental awareness.
The programme aimed to expand the knowledge and skills of local students, while giving volunteers the opportunity to develop their own life skills, witnessing first-hand the conditions faced by youth in rural Indonesia.
Mohamed Abdulla al-Saleh, Rota national programmes director, said: “Education is key to alleviating poverty and empowering youth in disadvantaged communities. Our ongoing initiatives across Asia allow for effective knowledge transfer, making a positive impact in the lives of youth and their wider communities.”
Abdullah Alyafei, associate vice president for Student Life and Services at Qatar University, said: “Volunteering and community service abroad is an eye-opening experience for students. It gives them the chance to contribute to the lives of others in less fortunate areas. Additionally, it is a great way to promote understanding and cultural exchange between the two countries.”
Mohammed al-Shoraim, a QU volunteer, said: “In this trip, we have learned a lot from the students who are intensely eager and enthusiastic to pursue education despite their limited resources and humble tools. We have to be extremely thankful for what we have. Those who want to succeed have to rely on themselves and not on the available means and resources. We came to learn and have learned a lot.”
“We believe that education is key to prosperity as it offers people the chance to develop their skills, realise their potential and make a meaningful contribution to society. This partnership with Rota was the perfect opportunity for HSBC to positively impact the lives of the children of Bayat,” said Abdul Hakeem Mostafawi, CEO of HSBC Qatar.