Doha: More than 5,000 volunteers from 92 countries are supporting the delivery of the FIFA Arab Cup, which is currently taking place in Qatar.
The 16-team international tournament is seen as a vital opportunity to fine-tune preparations for next year’s FIFA World Cup, which will kick off on November 21.
One of the key functional areas for any major event is volunteering – and the FIFA Arab Cup is no different. Volunteers are helping to deliver a vast range of operations, such as ticketing, accreditation, brand protection and fan support. They are also playing a key role in building the atmosphere on match days.
On the International Volunteer Day on December 5, brand protection volunteer Fatema Hassan Almajed, a 31-year-old from Qatar who works in the legal sector shared details about her passion for volunteering and the valuable skills she has learned from the pursuit.
What made you want to volunteer?
Qatar has given me everything I could ever ask for and I have always wanted to give back and serve my country in any way I can. Both the Arab Cup and World Cup are once-in-a-lifetime events so I thought it would be a great opportunity to volunteer. It also feels good to give back to the community. The satisfaction you gain just by seeing your work help others is priceless.
Tell us about your role – what do you do on match days?
On match days, I am responsible for supporting the brand protection venue manager. We work to protect the rights of FIFA’s sponsors and licensees. This is done mainly by monitoring the area surrounding the stadium to detect and report infringements.
What are the benefits of volunteering?
Through volunteering, I have acquired a variety of skills that will help me in different aspects of life. It has helped me expand my network and meet new people from different nationalities and backgrounds. I have gained teamwork and communication skills. Volunteering also forces you to leave your comfort zone and develop different facets of your personality.
It has certainly helped me become more organised.
How proud are you to support your country in delivering a major event like the FIFA Arab Cup?
When it comes to the delivery of events, Qatar assures that whenever we deliver, we deliver amazing.
I am very proud that Qatar will be the first Arab and Middle Easterncountry to host a World Cup and I will feel honoured to hopefully be a part of it. When I see people from all over the world gather in my country to watch a match and cheer for their team, it is an indescribable feeling.
Being able to help deliver the tournament, no matter what my role is, makes me feel accomplished.
What would you say to someone who is thinking about applying to become a volunteer?
I encourage everyone to sign up to become a volunteer. It’s a great experience and you will learn a variety of skills in different fields. Volunteering is very rewarding, especially seeing everyone happy at the stadium. If you haven’t applied yet, don’t miss the chance!
How will volunteering help you in future?
Through volunteering, I have learned a lot. I have gained more self-confidence. Working with and being exposed to different backgrounds will allow me to become more confident if I am selected to volunteer during the World Cup. I am glad I signed up to become a volunteer and I cannot wait to fine-tune the skills I learned and put them into practice in future.
Applications for the FIFA World Cup Volunteers Programme will open early next year through FIFA’s Global Volunteer platform.
