Tribune News Network
Doha
Years of Culture, the Education Above All Foundation, and Silatech concluded a volunteer service-learning trip to Morocco on October 23. The trip, which included students from the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) and alumni from Qatar Foundation, helped foster entrepreneurship among local Moroccan youth beneficiaries from Silatech’s enterprise development projects in Morocco, while providing an immersive cross-cultural learning experience.
Chairperson of Reach Out to Asia, Qatar Museums and Years of Culture, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, visited the participating youth on the final day, reviewed their entrepreneurial projects, and encouraged them to proceed with determination.
The closing day of the volunteer trip was also attended by, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Kingdom of Morocco, His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah bin Thamer Al Thani, along with several local officials from the city of Marrakesh.
The trip highlighted sustainable and creative industries, helping students and youth beneficiaries gain an in-depth understanding of each other’s cultural backgrounds and entrepreneurial experiences, while encouraging them to contribute to their countries’ economic growth. Volunteers along with the Moroccan beneficiaries also engaged in workshops and discussions that support innovation and practical problem-solving, enriching their international service-learning experience.
The judging panel announced and honoured the winning projects, and several participants shared their journeys, including the challenges they faced and how they overcame obstacles and difficulties.
George Tavola from Education Above All Foundation said, "The partnership with the Moroccan side represented by Al Amana Foundation aims to facilitate youth access to the world of employment, with a focus on experiential learning, knowledge and expertise exchange, and building cultural connections.”
He added: "One of the key aims of the volunteer trip is to build the knowledge and skills of both our Qatar-based volunteers and the local Moroccan youth beneficiaries, so they can adopt and spread long-term sustainable change in their lives and communities. As part of the Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture, this volunteer trip represents a unique opportunity to deepen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Qatar and Morocco and familiarize them with the history and culture of both countries.”
Head of External Relations and Engagement at Silatech, Fahad Abdullah Malik, said: "This trip, which is part of the Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture, involves 24 youth volunteers who were integrated with 14 young men and women from Morocco. The trip consists of two parts: the first is three days of training, where Qatari youth integrate with Moroccan youth and form groups to identify problems facing youth in the Moroccan labour market, and they try to create innovative solutions and develop projects to address these problems.”
Commenting on her participation in this project, Mayar Mukhtar, one of the volunteers from the University of Doha for Science and Technology, said: "We participated in Marrakesh with our counterparts in Morocco and exchanged knowledge and ideas for entrepreneurship for three days, and presented our ideas to the judging panel to develop the Moroccan market for entrepreneurship.”
Marwan Hajiri, a graduate of Hamad Bin Khalifa University at Qatar Foundation, said: "Our team presented a platform that brings together local artisans in North Africa and startup owners. The advantage of this project is facilitating electronic access for all artisans in an easy and simple way, and it also provides job seekers from designers and marketers to benefit from artisans’ work. Startup owners in the Arab world can work with them.” For her part, Alia Kazlawi, a designer from Marrakesh, said: "I attended this pioneering initiative, and I am very happy to share my project with our peers from Qatar, where I developed it further. My project integrates modern fashion with traditional Moroccan fashion, and I brought a Moroccan outfit to the workshop.
Our partners from Qatar also visited the shop where I work, where they learned up close about working with machines, as well as the traditional way (by hand).”
Commenting on what it means to be involved in this project, Hind Al Kuwari, a graduate of HEC Paris in Qatar, says: "This is a great opportunity to apply the theory learned from my studies into practice in the real world and share my knowledge, expertise and experience with local youth in Morocco as well as learn from their lived experiences. I think trips like this can strengthen the relationship between Qatar and Morocco, and I’m sure we’ll make lasting connections through this experience.”
Years of Culture is an initiative that seeks to strengthen cultural ties between nations, promoting mutual understanding and appreciation through interpersonal connections and immersive experiences. Through a series of cultural exchanges and collaborations, Years of Culture aims to showcase the rich cultural heritage of participating countries and foster lasting connections between diverse communities.