Al-Mannai with, third left, ABP’s Moloney, al-Kazem, al-Boainain, and al-Ansari at the presentation ceremony
The Academic Bridge Program (ABP) of Qatar Foundation raised a total of QR31,101 from its recent 10th anniversary charity carnival and fundraising campaign to help Reach Out To Asia (Rota) rebuild a flood-damaged primary school in Pakistan’s Swat Valley.
ABP’s donation will be used to refurbish and furnish the school and help contribute towards equipping the institution with the necessary teaching supplies.
Representatives from ABP’s faculty, staff and students officially handed over the proceeds to Rota director Essa al-Mannai.
Members of the fundraising campaign’s organising team: ABP assistant director for student services Moza al-Boainain, student services officer Alia Khairat, and ABP English faculty Derrick Moloney along with ABP student volunteers Jaber al-Kazem and Mariam al-Ansari discussed ways in which the ABP and Rota can continue to work closely.
Al-Mannai encouraged the ABP students, faculty and staff to attend the upcoming ‘Empower 2011’ Youth Conference at the new Student Center, in Education City from April 14 to 16. He said it would be a good opportunity for ABP students to network with other young people and find out more about the work that Rota does. 
Following on from the success of the ABP’s recent campaign, it is hoped that some ABP students will participate in future trips to help others less fortunate - and learn new skills, have fun and make new friends in the process.