Rota & CNA-Q volunteers heading to Tunisia.
Thirty student volunteers from the College of the North Atlantic Qatar (CNA-Q) are on a week-long service learning trip to Tunisia for a school renovation project in the western Jendouba province.
Organized by Reach Out To Asia (Rota), Qatar’s leading non-profit organisation, and sponsored by Vodafone Qatar, the trip is a part of an agreement signed between Rota and CNA-Q in April 2011, aimed at promoting mutual educational development and service co-operation to address mutual needs on a reciprocal basis of respect, independence and equal status of each party.
“In addition to the benefits it has on the beneficiary community, it pushes the volunteers to get out of their comfort zone, and envision a bigger role in society and the world,” said Vodafone Qatar head of Corporate Responsibility Dana Haidan.
The trip is part of Rota’s efforts aimed at fostering the spirit of volunteering in Qatar. During the trip, volunteers will also participate in activities that engage with the local community and environment.
“Our activity programme is designed to immerse the students in the local culture and ensure they benefit from a positive learning experience throughout the visit, while also leaving time to enjoy their visit to Tunisia,” said Rota Volunteer Programme manager George Tavola.
In February 2011, Rota launched an initiative called Reach Out to Arabia to provide assistance to Arab countries across North Africa. For this trip, Rota is working with Tunisia Charity, a local organisation established in 2011.
“At CNA-Q, we are inspired by the conviction that volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges worldwide. Our volunteers are excited to have this extraordinary opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of people in Tunisia,” said CNAQ International Education co-ordinator Candace Jesson.
Rota National Programmes director Mohamed Abdulla Saleh said: “The Rota-CNA-Q volunteers visiting Tunisia have a wonderful opportunity to participate in a project that will shape the futures of many young people. We look forward to hearing about their experiences when they return home.”
CNA-Q and Rota will seek to maintain the momentum of their partnership by exploring opportunities to publicise the volunteers’ trip reflections to their CNA-Q peers and the wider community, as well as advocating for the needs of the people in Tunisia through Qatar-based activities.
