The officials and youth representatives during a press conference held to launch the charity campaign at The Gate Mall, yesterday. PIC: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula
DOHA: In a new initiative, a group of youth in Qatar together with Silatech has launched a unique charity campaign to support young refugees and internally displaced people due to conflicts.
It will provide assistance to create job opportunities for the affected Syrian youth as well as for others at different places in the world.
The first of its kind ‘charitable competition to support young refugees and internally displaced persons’ was launched during a press conference held at The Gate Mall, yesterday.
The campaign led by 30 young Qataris and expatriates will raise funds through different channels for 30 days with an aim to create 30,000 job opportunities for the refugees.
The youth will compete with each other in collecting funds, said officials.
“Silatech works to support less privileged and marginalised youth with opportunities. We empower them through vocational training and help to improve their skills, which are required better employment. We support them by funding to establish income-generating enterprises, especially for youth in conflict and crisis affected areas,” said Faisal Al Emadi, Executive Director of Programs at Silatech.
The campaign is supported by different government and private institutions. It will raise funds on October 12 through a special live broadcast on Al Rayan TV and in Mall of Qatar from 7pm to 10pm. Public are invited to support the youth collect funds during this event.
“The campaign showcases the high values and the culture of humanitarian and charitable work inherited in the Qatari society. It is an honour for us as youth to lead this campaign to support our brothers and sisters who do not enjoy the same opportunities that we have.
“This is an opportunity for us to be role models in helping others and compete for a good cause. We thank all partner institutions that have spared efforts to support this humanitarian campaign. We look forward to collecting enough donations to provide sources of livelihoods for the unprivileged youth,” said Habes Howail, Head of External Relations at Qatar Foundation, and a youth representative of the campaign.
University students and professionals from the Qatari and expatriate community are among the 30 youth taking part in the campaign. They include Iman Al Kaabi, a prominent Qatari broadcaster, and Swar Al Dahab Ali, who leads the initiative ‘Mercy in Giving’, which aims to promote the value of mercy.
He is the winner of inaugural Akhlaquna Award, introduced by H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF).
Silatech is an international social development organisation working to create jobs and decent livelihood opportunities for youth. Over the past ten years it has provided one million jobs for young people including refugees and displaced persons in 17 countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
