Abu Hamour Accommodation -"Behind the Glamour"
Kinldy go through the report in GT and we can start working on this as new QLVG Project.
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WHAT started off as a school project has turned into a noble cause for a 15-year-old Qatari girl.
As part of her community and service project, Sara Mohamed al-Shamlan, a student at Qatar Academy, visited some impoverished homes at Abu Hamour in Doha. Now, she feels responsible to create an awareness of the state in which these people, mainly from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, lead their lives in Qatar.
Daughter of well-known Qatari businessman Mohamed Marzooq al-Shamlan, managing director of Marzooq Al Shamlan & Sons (MSS), Sara considers her father a major catalyst for her way of thinking.
“My father has been phenomenally supportive in this project and has always taught me to look at life with a broad perspective. Thanks to him, as a Qatari, I feel responsible to help the community in which I live”.
Many of the families she met at Abu Hamour are unable to buy even shoes and toys for their children, leave alone sending them to school.
“Why should we only depend on charity organisations to take the lead and create awareness?” she asked.
Sara is certain that even if a few people lent a helping hand, especially large corporate organisations in the country, there would be hope for these people.
“These are the people who have come here to my country to help build and shape the nation. While it is a brilliant act to help the people inflicted with pain in Gaza and Darfur, is it not time we turn inwards and look at the living conditions of these people? Some of them are even unable to fulfil the basic necessities of everyday life”.
Sara is following in footsteps of her father who has carved a niche in the society by actively involving himself in various social causes. Both of them firmly believe in the vision of HH Sheikha Mozah Nasser al-Misnad. “She is my role model and I look up to her for inspiration. I want to imbibe some of her qualities and her ways of helping the needy,” Sara said.
Distressed by what she saw at Abu Hamour, Sara has decided to create public awareness about the misery of people at the camp. Aware of the impact of visuals, she learnt photography from Mohamed Nairooz, a professional photographer. Armed with her new skills, Sara revisited those homes to capture the scenes there. In the process, photography has become her hobby.
“This project has opened my eyes and now I want to my fellow classmates, my Qatari brothers and sisters, the expats living in the country and all the corporate giants to come forward and support this cause. With the support and involvement of Qatar Charity, I am sure together we can make a difference”.
Crono, Marzooq Al Shamlan’s recently rebranded store, has sponsored the entire project and “I am very grateful to them,” Sara said.
Sara has named her project, ‘Behind the Glamour’.
Source: Gulftimes.com
http://gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=270170&ver...
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Speed Pra! I had a first hand experience of these accommodation as many of the residents are Government employees. It is really in miserable condition. The area is generally known as "Baloch Compound".
We QLVG can put our support behind Sara Al Shamlan in her noble cause.
Thanks to GT and its reporter for bringing the plight of the residents in the media. I remember GT also issued a detail report on this issue earlier.
