Context:
Qatar has a population of 2.23 million and GDP US$164.64 billion. While unemployment rate is 0.2%, unemployment among female youth (1%) is higher than that among male youth (0.1%). The average educational attainment is 8.2 school years in Qatar where the adjusted net enrolment rate for upper secondary education reached 89.1% in 2011.
Reach Out to Asia (ROTA) was founded by Qatar Foundation in 2007 as a result of H. H. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani’s call to develop an active and involved Qatari society. ROTA engaged 40 secondary schools and 9 universities in a four-part youth development strategy: Youth Service Club Network, annual EMPOWER conference, a four-day Leadership Training, and Youth Advisory Board
Implementation of programme/ initiative:
ROTA is an initiative by Qatar Foundation which aims at developing an active and involved Qatari society through the empowerment of Qatari youth and their encouragement to be agents of active change in the development of their own communities. More specifically, ROTA within the partnership aims at unlocking youth potential by enhancing their leadership, advocacy and project management skills.
Main challenges:
- N/A.
Results achieved:
Since 2007, more than 2000 Qatari youth (14-24 years old) benefited from the Youth Service Club, gained confidence and skills to become tomorrow’s leaders, and were empowered to actively change their communities. Every year since 2009, 400 youth aging 14-24 participated in the annual EMPOWER conference. They received 12 competence-based and innovative workshops by inspiring leaders and experts.
Moving Forward:
ROTA’s future scope of action is directed towards promoting female education, organizing student exchange programs, and establishing academic fellowships.
Replicability:
ROTA expanded its work and identified additional 10 Asian countries which require immediate action, including: Afghanistan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Iraq, Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, and Syria. In each country, ROTA aims to restore social and educational infrastructure ensuring an enhanced education for 48 million children.
References:
AHDR 2016
World Bank, 2016
International Labor Organization, 2016
https://www.reachouttoasia.org/en/project-detail/youth-development-1
Project Details
Date: October 10, 2017