QATAR ACADEMY STUDENTS ORGANISE CHARITY FOOTBALL MATCH FOR PALESTINE
More than Twenty- Seven Thousand people attended a “Stand with Palestine” Football Match on Friday 15 December at the Education City Stadium, Doha, Qatar, where an approximate of twenty- million Qatari Riyals was raised to support Palestinian people. The fund-raising initiative, launched by students of Qatar Academy Doha (QAD) is part of QF’s Pre-University Education is aimed to involve the local community and give them the opportunity to show their solidarity with the people of Palestine.
The initiative’s flagship football showdown featured QAD and Palestinian school students who played alongside local and international players, media personalities such as Rodrigo Tabata, Yaqub Bushahri, Mohammed Saadoun Al-Kuwari, Ali Al-Habsi, and Yassin Ibrahimi who were divided into two teams of Qatar and Palestine.
Over hundred students from Qatar Academy Doha volunteered at the event under the supervision of school -teachers, and the Asian Football Confederation provided the volunteers with training like the one received by World Cup volunteers. Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation (QF), alongside several dignitaries, excellencies, and ministers, attended the event.
Among the audience who attended the initiative was Wafa Hosni Jaber, a Palestinian from the city of Tulkarm who has lived in Qatar for more than twenty years, she says “It is not strange for Qatar to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people in all ways, and this charitable event takes us back to last year’s World Cup, with the same atmosphere, in which Palestine had a strong presence and we saw our country’s flag in the stands of the matches. Our presence here today sends a clear message to our people in Palestine – expressing our solidarity with them, and that we will never abandon the Palestinian cause and that it is our priority.”
The initiative included a variety of events, activities, and performances. It began with a musical act with a Palestinian theme performed by artists Nasser Al-Kubaisi, Dana Al-Meer, Nesma Emad, and Hala Al-Imadi, presenting the songs “Palestine is Arab” and “My Homeland.” It also featured a display of illuminated drones, and prize draws during half time of the match.
Proceeds from the ticket sales of the football match will go towards supporting relief efforts for Palestinians. And for those who wished to donate more than the ticket price, the initiative in collaboration with Qatar Charity, released a special online link where people could donate directly to the official channels dedicated to relief efforts in Palestine.
For a complete list of QF’s initiatives and projects, please visit: www.qf.org.qa
