Doha, Qatar: Held in celebration of the International Volunteer Day, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE) honoured the winning schools in the best volunteer work competition, as part of the volunteering week programme organised in collaboration with Qatar Charity.
Undersecretary of MoEHE HE Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Nuaimi, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs at MoEHE Maha Al Ruwaili, and head of volunteering department at Qatar Charity Jassim Muhammad Al Emadi attended the ceremony, along with school representatives, students, and experts in the field of volunteer work.
In the boys' school category, Hetteen Model School for Boys won first place, while Omar bin Al Khattab Model School for Boys came second. As for the girls' school category, Nusaybah bint Kaab Primary School for Girls won first place, followed by Maymouna Primary School for Girls in second, and AlBayan Preparatory School for Girls in third.
As for the most active boy schools during the volunteering week, these were Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Model School for Boys in first place, followed by Al Imam Al Shafei Preparatory School for Boys in second, and Khalifa Secondary School for Boys in third place.
In the girls' school category, Al Markhiyah Primary School for Girls won first place, followed by Sawda bint Zama Preparatory School for Girls in second place, and Ramlah bint Abi Sufyan Secondary School for Girls in third place.
During a press statement on the sideline of the volunteering week, HE Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Nuaimi emphasized the importance of instilling a culture of volunteering in younger generations and underscored MoEHE's pivotal role in establishing a conscious and responsible society in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030.
His Excellency expressed pride in participating students for their outstanding efforts in this international celebration of altruism and community service, adding that these young individuals embody the humane values for which this society aspires.
Dr. Al Nuaimi also praised Qatar Charity for its 'Ezdehar' initiative, which brought about a great leap forward in the schooling environment and promoted volunteer work among students. Moreover, His Excellency expressed admiration for the exhibition accompanying the event, which showcased remarkable images of volunteer activities carried out throughout the week.
HE the Undersecretary of MoEHE said that the activities' wonderful organisation speaks volumes for the coordinated efforts made by Qatar Charity and the programmes and activities section of the Ministry's School and Student Affairs Department.
Furthermore, His Excellency highlighted the importance of not limiting volunteer work to a given week nor a single event, rather that it must become an integral part of one's daily life and the Ministry's strategy, adding that the human element is an integral part of the Qatar National Vision 2030, with volunteering solidifying this element in various fields, be it social, environmental, or economic.
In a related context, Dr. Al Nuaimi revealed that the Ministry is working towards making volunteer work mandatory for preparatory school students, just as is the case for secondary school students, with the move requiring students to complete 25 hours of volunteer work during the academic year in order to promote altruism and community belonging.
In turn, community awareness manager at Nama Center Engineer Nasser Al Moghaiseeb said that volunteer work is a fundamental pillar in building communities and developing individuals. He noted that the experience gained from serving the community enables personal and professional growth.
For her part, Assistant Director of the School Affairs and Students Department at MoEHE Fatima Youssef Al Obaidli said that the Ministry organised this event as part of its vision to provide the youth with a pioneering education that would prepare them for a bright future based on humane values and social responsibility.
Similarly, Head of the Initiatives and Volunteering Department at Qatar Charity Fatima Jumaa Al Muhannadi emphasized the importance of volunteering as a virtue and a lifestyle that contributes to advancing societies and instilling noble values in the youth.
Al Muhannadi said that the partnering of Qatar Charity together with MoEHE is proof of their shared commitment to promoting volunteering.
