Minister of Social Development and Family Inaugurates Third Annual Exhibition of Private Associations and Institutions

Doha, January 23 (QNA) – HE Minister of Social Development and Family Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad inaugurated Monday the third annual exhibition of private associations and institutions.

The exhibition is held in cooperation with the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs – represented by the General Administration of Endowments, Qatar Charity (QC), and Cultural Village Foundation, Katara. The third edition of the exhibition is a continuation of the previous two editions’ success in achieving the main goals of introducing the public to the services of the non-profit organizations working in Qatar, motivating the civil community to accomplish outstanding achievements in sustainability, and encouraging collective and voluntary work as well as community participation.

Director of the Private Associations and Institutions Department at the Ministry Naji Abd Rabbo Al Aji said that the exhibition aims at presenting useful products and activities to community in partnership and support of the public and private sectors.

In his statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA), he said the partnership between the public and private sectors results in programs and activities that serve the community in light of the great diversity of the associations, whether on the professional, cultural, scientific, or educational sides.

He pointed out that the exhibition aims to encourage and motivate civil community organizations to make significant efforts, accomplish outstanding achievements in sustainability, encourage and support social and voluntary work in all social fields, activate community participation, and expand and promote the responsibilities and roles of effective social partnership between state and civil community institutions to advance social responsibility.

He added that the law regulated the work of private associations and empowered them to carry out their work, adding that the Ministry of Social Development and Family enables all associations to work freely unless they deviate from the law regulating the work of civil community organizations in Qatar.

He expressed his hope that the exhibition constitutes a start for a competitive action among associations to provide qualitative initiatives serving the community, each in its field of specialization, as associations participating in the exhibition have a variety of fields, including professional, educational, cultural, and social.

For his part, HE Director General of the General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Ghanim Al-Thani said that the annual exhibition aims to exchange the expertise among various associations and a renewed showcase of the achieved results, praising the efforts made by the Ministry of Social Development and Family for organizing such significant and distinguished exhibition.

In an exclusive statement to QNA, His Excellency said that the support and partnership of the General Directorate of Endowments at the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs for the exhibition came as an achievement of the integration among governmental authorities, support for civil institutions, and as an implementation of the slogan (endowment is a community partnership).

For her part, Assistant Director of the Family Affairs Department at the Ministry of Social Development and Family said that this exhibition comes within the framework of the ministry’s keenness to enrich and activate the work of these private associations and institutions, highlight their positive role in the community – especially in national projects, encourage participants and motivate them, and introduce the community to the prominent role of these associations projects. She pointed out that part of the ministry’s efforts in serving the community is providing support for private associations, their awareness campaigns and advising programs, and motivating them to serve the community.

In turn, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Autism Society Sheikha Jawaher Fahad Al-Thani stressed the significance of Qatar Autism Society’s participation in the exhibition as the goal behind its participation lies in the right of people with autism to integrate into society. She said that the latest news from the Qatar Autism Society is related to the launch of robots for people with autism to share their daily activities, whether at home or out, to help them psychologically and mentally.

Under the theme “my association in service of community,” the exhibition saw competitive programs and initiatives in all fields and an expanded number of participants from all associations and organizations to raise the awareness of private associations and their significant role in serving the community.

The exhibition will allow productive projects to market their initiatives and the emergence of new productive projects that serve the community and provide job opportunities.

(QNA)