Fifth Gulf Voluntary Work Forum gets underway in Doha

5th Gulf Voluntary Work Forum Begins in Doha with Focus on Youth and Community

The 5th edition of the Gulf Voluntary Work Forum, organized by the Red Crescent Societies and Associations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, officially began in Doha yesterday. The two-day event, hosted by the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS), is being held under the theme ‘Whoever revives it.’

In his opening address, Faisal Mohammed al-Emadi, the Secretary-General of QRCS, commended the outstanding humanitarian and voluntary efforts of the Red Crescent associations and societies across the GCC region. In order to promote volunteer work in the Gulf, he underlined that the event offers a special venue for exchanging insightful knowledge and firsthand experiences.

The forum was first suggested by Qatar at the 2017 conference of Red Crescent association presidents, and since then, it has grown to be a vital gathering for volunteer organizations in the area, Al-Emadi added.

This year’s theme was chosen to recognize the vital role of volunteers in fostering hope, supporting communities, and making impactful changes.

The primary goal of the forum is to promote a culture of volunteering among Gulf youth, nurturing a strong sense of social responsibility and encouraging active participation. The forum also seeks to promote volunteer participation among the GCC nations, allow the exchange of best practices, and highlight innovative projects and inspirational young volunteers.

A spokesperson for the GCC’s General Secretariat, Ahmed al-Qurainees, said the meeting exemplifies the spirit of Gulf collaboration, particularly in the volunteer and humanitarian sectors. He emphasized how the Red Crescent organizations throughout the GCC prioritize volunteers, who will receive the coveted Red Crescent Volunteer Work Award during the ceremony. Their commitment and efforts to volunteers in the area are intended to be further motivated by this award.

The forum, which is being conducted for the second year in a row, will end on Thursday, which is also International Volunteer Day, which has been observed worldwide on December 5th since the United Nations was founded in 1985. In addition to investing in youth and individual talents for the benefit of their communities and the wider world, QRCS joins other national societies throughout the world in commemorating this anniversary to highlight the value of volunteering in society.

In addition to the forum, an exhibition has been set up to showcase the various projects undertaken by QRCS’s Volunteering and Local Development Sector. The exhibition also highlights volunteer experiences from other Red Crescent associations in the GCC, alongside the papers presented by the participants at the event.