Reach Out To Asia (Rota) has partnered with College of the North Atlantic – Qatar (CNA-Q) to send 14 students to Nepal as part of its International Volunteer Trips Programme.
The objective is to build the capacity of volunteers in Qatar as well as youth and communities in Nepal and around Asia. The student volunteers, along with two CNA-Q staff members, travelled last month with Rota to the Nawalparasi district in Nepal to provide educational support to a Rota -supported READ Nepal Community Centre.
Essa al-Mannai, executive director, Rota, said the International Volunteer Trips Programme aims to create a movement of volunteers and global citizens within Qatar who actively complement Rota’s initiatives that positively impact youth and communities across Asia.
“The programme is a life-enriching experience that develops the skills of both our volunteers and its beneficiaries, ensuring they are able to manage challenges, maximise opportunities, and solve problems constructively,” al-Mannai added.
During their visit, Rota and CNA-Q volunteers led daily peer-to-peer workshops at the local READ Nepal Community Centre, toured the area and interacted with the local youth. The daily sessions helped youth from all 12 Rota-supported READ Nepal Centres develop their interpersonal communication skills and promoted cross-cultural learning while empowering
them to reach their potential.
The volunteer-led workshops were delivered to a total of 40 Nepali students over five days. The Nepali youth aged 18-24 were divided into groups of 10 and rotated on a daily basis. On the fifth day the volunteers and participants organised an exhibition and closing ceremony where the deliverables from the week were presented.  
Fahad al-Hedfa, a CNA-Q student volunteer, said, “This experience opened my eyes in so many ways. The workshops we delivered to the Nepali youth may seem insignificant in our eyes but to them I saw it meant the world, through the smiles that lit up their faces. I’m incredibly proud of myself and every single one of the CNA-Q/Rota student volunteers.”
Allison Furlong, international education co-ordinator, CNA-Q, said, “We are grateful to Rota for once again granting us this incredible opportunity. Service learning is a gift that keeps on giving, allowing our students to contribute to the lives of Nepali youth while learning about themselves in the process.”