Dr Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh bin Nasser al-Thani, board member of Rota and Essa al-Mannai, executive director of Rota.
As many as 36 photographs taken by Reach Out To Asia (Rota) volunteers were put up for auction at Mathaf Museum of Modern Art yesterday.
The auction was held to support one of Rota’s education projects in Indonesia.
Three of the photographs fetched QR20,000 each. The photographs were taken by Rota volunteers while they were on Rota projects abroad as well as in Qatar. The amount raised through the auction will be used to provide scholarships for secondary school students in one of the schools in Indonesia.
Speaking to Gulf Times, Dr Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh bin Nasser al-Thani, board member of Rota said that it was a great initiative for helping the educational initiatives of Rota.
She said: “The photographs were taken by our volunteers and they will go a long way in raising financial support for our educational initiatives in Indonesia. We are trying to equip many of the schools with necessary facilities as many of them were destroyed by a massive earthquake in Indonesia in 2006.”
She also appreciated the support of Oxy Qatar in sponsoring the Ramadan activities of Rota.
Essa al-Mannai, executive director of Rota said: “The works of the Rota volunteers show their commitment and dedication for Rota. We are proud of our volunteers and the great work they are doing during their trips. It is an opportunity for us to use their contributions for a greater cause.”
He said that this was the second year in continuation Oxy Qatar was supporting Rota events which showed their commitment to Qatari initiatives.
George Tavola, volunteer programme manager of Rota, said that the auction will enable Rota to support many students of a secondary school in Indonesia which Rota is sponsoring. He said: “Auction for each photo will begin with a base price of QR500 and the bidders can raise the bid with multiples of 100. The total money raised will be used to support the students. The scholarships will help the students to pursue their studies as there is no government aid in Indonesia for students after the age of 15.”
He also said that philanthropists can sponsor the students by paying QR 3,000 for one year which will cover the entire educational needs of a child.
The event was organised along with Rota’s Ramadan Iftar. Many Rota officials, volunteers and Qatar Foundation officials as well as philanthropists were present on the occasion for Iftar and the auction.
