The trip is being conducted with the aim of developing leadership skills among youth and preparing them for potential economic and social challenges.
The tour comes as part of Rota’s international volunteer trips programme to create a movement of volunteers and responsible global citizens within Qatar, who actively carry out initiatives to have a positive impact on communities across Asia, according to a statement.
The students are visiting Bardiya and Banke rural districts in western Nepal as part of the trip, which kicked off on January 19 and has been organised in collaboration with Rural Education and Development Global Nepal, a non-profit organisation operating in rural South Asia that seeks to build literacy and empower rural communities through Community Libraries and Resource Centres.
The Rota project, in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, intends to expand education and livelihood resources for communities in general and for youth in particular in four districts of Nepal, the statement notes. With a special focus on information and communications technology (ICT) skills, the project aims to establish and upgrade 11 community centres, which will create educational, social and economic opportunities through community engagement.
Mohamed al-Saleh, national programme director at EAA’s Rota, said: “During the trip, the selected students who have passion in leadership and youth development, and have the required skills in IT, business and leadership, will be exposed to the reality faced by in-country EAA beneficiaries in order to raise their awareness of how education addresses developmental needs. The students will also have the chance to participate in an organised and well facilitated peer to peer workshop on leadership, computer skills, decision making and entrepreneurship, to develop their psychosocial life skills enabling them to cope with life and its challenges, and help them gain cross-cultural understanding in an open and trusting environment, as well as improving their interpersonal communication, self-awareness and empathy.”
The volunteering students will be inspired throughout this journey to engage in ongoing Qatar-based volunteering activities, and implement the knowledge and learning experiences they have received as part of Rota’s Model of International Volunteer Trips.
Noora al-Thani, Rota volunteer, said: “I am really excited about this volunteering journey. I believe it will boost my self-confidence, create impact in people’s lives and open my eyes to some of the educational obstacles youth across Asia are faced with. I thank the EAA organisers for giving me this incredible opportunity and look forward to taking part in future trips.”
EAA Foundation’s Rota volunteer programme aims to promote a culture of volunteerism in Qatar, create a link between EAA’s national and international initiatives, and build the capacity of volunteers and beneficiaries by engaging in meaningful service, cross-cultural exchange and skills transfer.
