FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR AKHLAQUNA AWARD

Public Voting Now Open Via Dedicated Website

Doha, Qatar, April 15, 2018 - (QF) has announced the three finalists for its 2018 Akhlaquna Award, and is encouraging members of the community to vote via the initiative’s dedicated website, akhlaquna.qa/en.

The finalists for the inaugural award include: Abdulaziz Al Ansari, who is working to spread peace and mercy through his program ‘No Difference Between Us’; Siwar Al Dahab’s initiative ‘Mercy In Giving’, which aims to promote the value of mercy; and ‘Green Maasai Troupe’, a community-based group whose overarching mission is to promote healthy lifestyles and protect the environment.

The three finalists were selected from over a hundred applications by three judges: Dr. Emad El-Din Shahin, Dean of College of Islamic Studies at Hamad Bin Khalifa University; Amal Al Mannai, Chief Executive Officer of the Qatar Foundation for Social Work; and Dr. Jassim Al Sultan, Director General at the Wijdan Cultural Centre, part of the Ministry of Culture and Sports.

Mrs. Machaille Al-Naimi, President of Community Development, QF, said: “We are delighted to announce the three finalists for our inaugural Akhlaquna Award. We received over a hundred nominations for the initiative, which was open to Qatari nationals and residents in Qatar and could include local or international projects. Through Akhlaquna we aim to inspire the entire community and empower the next generation of leaders in Qatar by recognizing and supporting projects that help build a better society.

“What we really want now is for members of the wider community to get behind these projects by voting for their favorite initiative, or the project they feel best represents the chosen values of mercy, tolerance, honesty, and generosity.”

Voting for the 2018 Akhlaquna Award closes at 12pm on Tuesday, May 1. The winner will be officially announced during QF’s Convocation ceremony later that evening.

As part of Abdulaziz Al Ansari’s ‘No Difference Between Us’ program, which has been running for six years, Al Ansari distributes food and water at construction sites across the country, working hard to establish social equality.

Siwar Al Dahab aims to create a movement that unites various educational, health, and social sectors in an effort to tackle specific issues within society, and, in doing so, is working to ensure the value of mercy is adopted into daily practice.

Green Maasai Troupe was launched in 2011 by Peter Kimani, Samuel Nyuthi, and Zacccheus Njuguna, and today includes more than 50 members. The group organizes volunteering activities, hospital visits, donates clothes, recycles, and runs environmental conservation and awareness programs.

The Akhlaquna Award was first announced by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, during QF’s Convocation 2017 ceremony. For further information on the projects, please visit the Akhlaquna Award website, or on Facebook at Akhlaquna Qatar, Twitter @akhlaqunaqa, and Instagram @akhlaquna.

ENDS

Qatar Foundation – Unlocking Human Potential

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) is a non-profit organization that supports Qatar on its journey to becoming a diversified and sustainable economy. QF strives to serve the people of Qatar and beyond by providing specialized programs across its innovation-focused ecosystem of education, science and research, and community development.

QF was founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Emir, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, who shared the vision to provide Qatar with quality education. Today, QF’s world-class education system offers lifelong learning opportunities to community members as young as six months through to doctoral level, enabling graduates to thrive in a global environment and contribute to the nation’s development.

QF is also creating a multidisciplinary innovation hub in Qatar, where homegrown researchers are working to address local and global challenges. By promoting a culture of lifelong learning and fostering social engagement through programs that embody Qatari culture, QF is committed to empowering the local community and contributing to a better world for all.

For a complete list of QF’s initiatives and projects, visit http://www.qf.org.qa