More than 100 local volunteers have been preparing for the start of Ramadan by assembling food parcels for Reach Out to Asia (Rota)’s Ramadan 2015 Project. For the fourth year in a row, Rota is partnering with Occidental Petroleum Corporation (Oxy Qatar) for the campaign, in which teams of volunteers have been “giving their time year after year to ensure that Rota’s work continues to reach those most in need during Ramadan,” according to a statement. The Ramadan initiative of Rota, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, aims to raise local awareness of the value of volunteerism and community service and is in line with the Human and Social Development Pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030, the statement notes.The volunteers joined forces at the Qatar Table Tennis Association to pack packages of bulk groceries for 200 local families. The parcels, which include pasta, cooking oil, flour, lentils and milk powder, will be distributed by the volunteers over the coming days.
Essa al-Mannai, Rota’s executive director, said: “We are very proud of all our volunteers, who generously give up their time for the greater good of the community. We are always delighted to see how eager they are to volunteer and help those in need. The holy month of Ramadan is a unique opportunity through which we demonstrate the importance of voluntary work and its benefits to Qatari society.”
Speaking on her experience, Rota volunteer Hessa al-Badr said: “It is only now that I realise the true power of volunteering and its role in building a happy and connected society. Rota’s Ramadan 2015 Project is an important opportunity to provide help to the people and families most in need, as well as working with great people of all different ages and nationalities. I am already looking forward to volunteering with Rota again.”