Reach Out To Asia Honors Al Koora Art Project Devotees

Doha, December 05 (QNA) - 70 children with special needs, emerging young Qatari artists and volunteers from the Reach Out To Asia (ROTA)-sponsored Al Koora Art Project were recognized in an event held in their honor. Conceptualized and coordinated by ROTA s Volunteer Program, the Al Koora Art Project engaged children with special needs from seven different institutions to participate in an art project dedicated to HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. "This ceremony expresses our gratitude to all those involved in the project," explained Mr. Mohamed Abdulla Saleh, Community Development Manager at ROTA. "We are extremely pleased at the level of dedication that the children, artists and volunteers have shown towards the project. This would not have been possible without the hard work and effort from our Volunteer Program, the young aspiring Qatari artists from Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQ), and our very own ROTA volunteers. We thank everyone involved in this project." The Al Koora Art Project came about as the result of ROTA s Volunteer Program s commitment to community service and their dedication to the spirit of volunteerism. The initiative engaged 40 children with special needs from seven Qatari organizations including the Dhreima Qatar Orphan Foundation, Al Noor Institute for the Blind, Best Buddies Qatar, the Qatari Center of Social Culture for the Deaf, Hope Qatar, the Qatar Society for Rehabilitation of Special Needs, and the Qatar Paralympic Committee. The children were invited to participate in a series of workshops held at VCU-Q where they joined ROTA volunteers and a group of enthusiastic young Qatari artists who led the children in seminars to create works of art that reflected different aspects of Qatar including its people and environment in the past, present, and future. The theme was interpreted through different mediums of art including painting, drawing, and poetry. "The final goal of this initiative is to form a collective work of art that will be dedicated to His Highness the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, symbolizing the children s gratitude for Qatar winning the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and putting the country at the heart of the global sporting map," continued Mr. Saleh. "The Al Koora Art Project will be revealed to the public and auctioned off at ROTA s Gala Dinner later this month with the proceeds going to fund ROTA projects in Qatar and abroad." The 4th ROTA Gala Dinner & Charity Auction, featuring the Al Koora artwork, takes place at Katara Cultural Village on Monday 12th December 2011. (QNA)