The 5th edition of the Gulf Voluntary Work Forum for the Red Crescent Societies and Associations in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries began in Doha, yesterday.
The two-day event is hosted by the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) under the theme of ‘Whoever revives it.’ In his opening remarks before the forum, HE Secretary-General of QRCS, Faisal Mohammed al-Emadi, lauded the incredible humanitarian and volunteer work of the Red Crescent associations and societies in the GCC countries, indicating that the forum is considered an invaluable opportunity to share views and experiences to advance the Gulf voluntary work.
He highlighted that the forum was launched for the first time based on Qatar’s suggestion to be officially adopted at the meeting of the presidents of the Red Crescent associations and societies in the GCC countries in 2017, noting that the theme of the forum has been selected to acknowledge the importance of volunteer efforts and their role in instilling hope, nurturing communities, and making a difference in them.
HE al-Emadi pointed out that the objective of this event is to promote the volunteer culture among the Gulf youth and to promote their sense of responsibility and interaction with others, in addition to highlighting models of young trailblazing initiatives in volunteering, sharing expertise, and volunteer work experiences among the GCC states.
Representative of the General Secretariat of the GCC Ahmed al-Qurainees said the forum is an embodiment of the meaning of the Gulf co-operation in the humanitarian and volunteer area, affirming that it stems from the priority given by the Red Crescent societies and associations in the GCC states to their volunteers. Those volunteers will be accorded with the volunteer work award of the Red Crescent in the GCC countries on the margins of this forum, in recognition of their contributions and to catalyse them in the field of volunteer work for the service and advancement of the GCC countries.
Being held for the second year consecutively, the forum will wind up Thursday coinciding with the International Volunteer Day which is annually observed on December 5 each year after it was endorsed by the UN in 1985.
QRCS marks this occasion alongside its peer national societies worldwide, stemming from its keenness to promote the value of volunteering in society, in addition to investing in youth and individual capabilities to serve the homeland and humanity.
Alongside this event, an exhibition was inaugurated that showcased the projects carried out by the Volunteering and Local Development Sector at QRCS, along with volunteer experiences of Red Crescent associations and societies in the GCC states, and the papers presented by them.
Moreover, the training experiences of the participating entities will be discussed on the second and final day today. (QNA)
