Doha: Qatar Charity’s (QC) ‘Marriage’ project has facilitated 200 young Qatari marriages. The project was launched under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Affairs.
“It comes within the framework of encouraging young Qataris to marry and facilitates this by providing them with practical assistance,” said Programme Director, Mohammed Shaheen Matawah
Matawah wished a happy life to the most recent groom, Saed Turki, and his wife, asking God to bless them and thanked all partners of the programme for their efforts.
Turki expressed joy on his wedding and thanked all those who had stood with him and made it possible, including his parents, relatives, friends, co-workers and QC, which, he said, devotes its capabilities to provide projects at the community level.
“As one of the beneficiaries of the Marriage programme, I feel qualified to talk of the valuable and noble role the unique project is playing: Helping young Qataris to marry by reducing the costs,” Turki said.
He explained how he had begun to prepare very early on for his matrimonial life via the associated programme which involved professional specialists in various fields and special committees.
He appreciated the advice and guidance of sheikhs, which, he said, had had a positive impact on him and his family.
He appealed to other young people to join the programme and take advantage of the expertise.
Matawah highlighted the most important features of the second edition of the project.
“After completion of the first year and the launch of the second phase, we are seeking to increase the number of beneficiaries, improve its services and extend geography to include areas outside Doha, particularly the Creek, the north and Al Wakra and the western cities of Shahhaniya and Dakhan.”
He said they had started placing tents in some areas in readiness for the targeted weddings and were working on extending the programme to include both spouses as opposed to focusing on grooms.
Matawah revealed that all marriages that have resulted from the programme are going strong and there have been no cases of divorce to date. The success of the programme is clear from the number of requests they are receiving from young Qataris ready to get married. “What is sustaining the programme is the number of new partnerships, including agreements with relevant bodies to provide more services.”
QC launched the programme in partnership with Aspire Logistics and Barwa Real Estate who help provide tents to hold weddings at no cost, easing the financial burden of marriage and providing participants with cultural and social support to preserve the institution of marriage.
The programme seeks to achieve objectives in three areas — educational, cultural and social and economic — and offers services and assistance to the targeted couples.
It also aims to educate young people, helping avoid causes of divorce and provide cultural and educational configuration to enable couples to carry out their duties towards the family as well as reducing the cost of marriage and the phenomenon of debt among newlyweds.
To take advantage of the programme, couples must be Qataris and agree to take part in it.
Sheikh Lashkar Shahwani, a member of the Co-living Program Committee which accompanies the programme, said his role focuses on contributing to the cohesion of the family and the preservation of its identity, in light of the belief that a coherent family leads to a cohesive society which leads to prosperity and progress of the nation.
He noted that the idea of the accompanying programme confirms this concept and promotes these values among young people of both genders.
He said committees were formed to implement the programme, including a committee of notables to provide advice and guidance to those on the verge of marriage allowing them to benefit from their experience, a committee of elders to provide advice from an Islamic perspective and highlight Shariah rights and duties for both spouses and a youth committee of successful young leaders to provide advice on marriage while maintaining working lives.
Badria Yaqout, a member of the Women’s Committee, said: “There are women’s committees, including a Wajeehat Committee, an Advisory Committee, a Shariah Committee and a Girls Committee. They provide counselling on experiences connected to family life, and how a wife can avoid problems.”
Yaqout said the Advisory Committee for Men involves experts in family and related issues and provides information and expertise to help the husband overcome problems of family life.
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