By Isabel Ovalle
Six years ago, three expatriates founded InterNations with the goal of serving others in their situation. After living abroad for many years, the founders realised how difficult it was to gather all the necessary information before moving to another country. This is how they came up with the idea of creating a platform where people in the same circumstance could interact.
Three years later this platform reached Qatar, and it is now in the expert hands of Mark Thomson, who serves as Ambassador to InterNations since 2011. This British national speaks Arabic and has lived in the region for over a decade.
The organisation has many committed members in each city where it operates, such as Thomson, who organises monthly events and is the contact person for expats in Doha.
Another example of dedicated members are group consuls who create activity groups and see to it that the activities take place regularly. In addition, InterNations local scouts offer tips and expertise on all aspects relevant to expat life in their local communities. All this keeping in mind the InterNations slogan: Nobody stands alone.
Anyone can put their talents at the service of the community, from photographers and golf players to coaches like Thomson. Those who are socially conscious can start a group in their local community or support the already existing one.
“When I arrived, there weren’t that many expats and not much to do. Consequently, people who moved here felt out of place. It was hard to feel that you were in an environment where you could be socially active,” said Thomson.
Being in this situation, he joined InterNations, which, back then, was quite dormant with 300 members. “I took over and started organising events for members to get together,” explained the ambassador, adding that now the group has over 7,000 members of 49 nationalities and holds events at least twice a month.
Beyond providing members a way to make friends and be entertained, the group wants to be a social support system for expats. “We have helped people get over adversity, trouble, answer any requirements for their families and find schools,” he said.
The network is made of professionals from all fields — doctors, engineers, heads of hotels, CEO’s. “We have really high-profile people, but we’re not an exclusive group,” he clarified.
In addition, there are around 16 specific groups for different activities, like golf, tennis, desert safari, sailing, photography and dancing.
Among the groups is one for professional networking, as well as another only for women, for those who might feel more comfortable without men present.
However, all members are welcome to gather for major events like a recent beach party at Grand Hyatt Doha, for which more than 600 people congregated.
