29 May 2018, Doha, Qatar -   Education Above All (EAA) Foundation’s programme, Reach Out to Asia (ROTA), has launched its Ramadan 2018 Project 'Sharing Hope', bringing together male and female local volunteers to support vulnerable communities in Qatar, in line with the principles of community service and giving back during the holy month of Ramadan.  

ROTA Ramadan 2018 Project builds eleven years of supporting members of the local community through activities that connect volunteers with the wider community and give them the opportunity to learn new skills and increase their awareness of the value of community service and volunteerism. This year's project theme “Sharing Hope” was inspired by its main initiative that focuses on renovating HOPE Qatar, a school in Al Maamoura in Doha serving children with special needs.  

ROTA Volunteers will scrape and paint the border wall and exterior of the building then assist contractors to install artificial grass, playground equipment and sun shades. The project aims to give the school a much needed facelift and contribute to creating a child-friendly and conducive learning environment.”

From its end, 'HOPE Qatar' will introduce ROTA volunteers to the school and provide the opportunity to engage with students and enjoy a practical educational experience. ROTA will also take the partnership further as ROTA-EAA Volunteers plan to provide a unique Garangaou experience for a group of 25 children from 'HOPE Qatar'.   

Established in 2005, 'HOPE Qatar' delivers education to children living with a variety of disabilities. The mission of HOPE is to provide Help, Opportunity, Participation, and Education (HOPE) to differently abled children and young adults, enabling them to enhance their abilities to overcome their challenges; a vision shared by ROTA which believes in engaging young people and other community members in addressing educational and development challenges both at home and abroad. 

'The Holy month of Ramadan is a very special time of the year for ROTA volunteers. Our annual Ramadan project reflects the true spirit of this holy month in providing practical help to various segments in the community, while demonstrating the importance of volunteering and the value of making a meaningful contribution to a better society', said Mohammed Saleh, Director of National Programmes at ROTA. “This year, ROTA focuses on sharing hope through its partnership with HOPE Qatar,  and while we know that they need more ongoing assistance, we hope this activity inspires other to contribute to this very worthy cause. . We hope to make a positive difference in the lives of our beneficiaries this Ramadan and we thank our volunteers in advance for their readiness and commitment'.

In addition to the HOPE Qatar school renovation, ROTA will also hold several Iftar gatherings for various community partners. As a gesture of gratitude to the labourers from the Gulf Contracting Company (GCC) – a key partner in ROTA’s Reach Into Qatar House Renovation Project – the ROTA Volunteer Program recently hosted an Iftar in their honour during which attendees were able to enjoy a mutually beneficial cultural exchange.