Under the motto ‘For the Sake of Qatar,’ a national campaign to seek support from volunteers in fighting coronavirus (Covid-19) has been launched in the State of Qatar. Since its launching to date, a total of 35,000 male and female volunteers registered for the programme, including Qataris and residents.

Some of the volunteers were asked by Qatar University (QU) about their feedback and experiences from volunteering in the campaign. 

Volunteer Ahmed al-Jaber said:

“I volunteered for the first time in 2003 and ever since, I am interested in the voluntary work as a means of community service. I want to serve my country to protect the community, and support institutions and ministries in their many efforts to advance services provided to citizens. In my opinion, this is the least that can be offered to the community in these circumstances.”

He added volunteering gives new skills to develop themselves and help the community, including parents, children, and brothers.

Another volunteer named Mohamed al-Madhahka believes that voluntary work is beneficial for both the community and the individual.

He said:

“Volunteering against this pandemic and serving the community stand as a required national service. Many competent authorities worked on the volunteers’ potentials and equipped them with a lot of skills through training courses addressing safety and its methods as well as other skills,”

He used to volunteer in 2014 and he loves to continue doing community service and helping others.

According to the head of the voluntary team, Mohamed Shaheen, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has given him and other volunteers an opportunity to contribute to serve Qatar, through training workshops that offer volunteers many skills including supporting medical teams, treating infected people, and providing assistance to those who need help.

He added that he and his colleagues are happy to serve the country and are proud about participating in the voluntary work.

He believes that national cohesion and unity are very much apparent in this large number of natives and residents who have expressed their interest to volunteer around the clock and contribute to the efforts of Qatar against Covid-19.

A supervisor of Qatar Foundation’s Training Workshops, volunteer Nisreen Battah, finds happiness over the voluntary work that she has been engaged with since 2014. She said that she was among the first who registered in the voluntary work website and encouraged her family and friends to volunteer. She added that through these workshops, she equips the volunteers with more skills and knowledge to serve the country.

As for the volunteers' safety, Battah said that all precautions have been provided to ensure their protection.

“Volunteer to Satisfy Yourself,” this is what the voluntary activist, Hamad al-Kenti believes in, saying that Covid-19 pandemic is threatening economies of big and small countries. He added:

“What makes this pandemic different from other diseases is that, no one single country or sector can defeat it alone. All must join hands and stay at home till this calamity ends and becomes past news.”

The campaign intensifies the cooperation and solidarity existing among natives and expats to defend Qatar and defeat Covid-19 until everything comes back to normal.

al-Kenti disclosed:

“This is exactly what Qatari people, nationals and residents, have demonstrated in rushing in thousands to volunteer with the Ministry of Public Health, the Red Crescent, and Qatar Charity. This move confirms that seeds of goodness and the roots of Qatar’s love lie deep in the hearts and minds. Everyone is volunteering. Anyone who stays at home is a volunteer, anyone who provides or organises, or attends voluntary training courses is a volunteer. All relevant whereabouts of voluntary work are addressed by volunteers under the #Volunteer _ for _ Qatar, exerting their time and effort as a redemption for Qatar, which transcends with the spirit of loyalty.”