Another Landmark for QLVG - Time out Doha
help online
If you’re looking to help the poorer members of our society, here’s how to join an online community doing just that Discuss this article
‘I couldn’t last more than 15 minutes, it was intolerable,’ says the smartly-suited young professional. He’s talking about being out in the midday sun in Doha in July while volunteering to give water to labourers toiling in unbearably hot temperatures, in the mid-forties.
‘Speed’, his online name, is the organiser of the Qatar Living website’s Community Volunteer Group, a 550-strong group of people keen to give a helping hand to anyone in need – from sweltering labourers to an elderly Indian man trapped in Doha by debt, and the animals made homeless by the Qatar Animal Welfare shelter fire.
The QL website is hugely popular for everything from buying and selling stuff, verifying wild rumours to telling jokes and making friends. It has many groups, but one of the most popular is the volunteer group. It’s an impressive demonstration of the power of the online community, where people can react instantly and work together to solve a problem.
The group was originally run by ‘Qatari Girl’ who organised hospital visits and blood donations, but her other commitments meant it went a bit quiet. However, it leapt back into life in early 2008 when a fire at a workers’ camp robbed 700 men of their homes and belongings.
The smoke was still billowing above the camp when the story was posted on QL and there were immediately hundreds of responses. A drop-off point was chosen, and within days volunteers had donated carloads of clothes, food and toiletries.
‘One lady came with her 4x4 full of new clothes. She’d gone round her neighbours in West Bay and asked for donations. She even had new CD players and radios,’ says Speed. He adds that he is constantly amazed and delighted by how much people are willing to help and what they are prepared to do. ‘We have so many members, from different ages and nationalities – but our one goal is to help others,’ he says.
From his online name we were expecting a baseball-capped ‘dude’, but instead met a thoughtful, quietly spoken and soberly dressed HR officer. One of the fascinating things about such an online group is building cyber relationships, then meeting ‘Dohagal’ and ‘Gypsy’ for real. ‘Everyone uses nicknames, you don’t even know if it’s a guy or a girl. You can have someone who online is very bold with what they say, then you meet them in person and they are very shy,’ says Speed.
As well as giving people the chance to have an outspoken alter ego, through QL the community group also gives people the chance to break out of their Doha bubble, to work with other nationalities and people from all ends of the pay scale: ‘We have people doing different jobs, from top managers to junior levels. Not everyone can donate money or things, some people just give their time.’
Also, taking part in an event like the water drive, where 2,000 bottles of chilled water were handed out to workers over two days last summer, lets you have a taste of what it is feels like to work in such conditions. ‘It was a good lesson, we drive around in our air conditioned cars. We don’t feel the heat, we might be outside for one minute going from the car to the mall or to the office, but that’s it. We have to salute these people, the way they are here working for us.’
There are many expats here with time on their hands who want to do community and voluntary work, but struggle to find an outlet for their altruistic desires. Local charities may only be looking for Arab speakers.
Speed says his group can fill the vacuum, and he has ideas for other ongoing projects which he wants to get off the ground: ‘We are planning a programme for women who want to do more to help, but maybe have kids and other commitments. We are looking at maybe visiting women in hospital or in prison.’
He is also working on getting aid together to send to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake and hopes to liaise with the Red Crescent and Qatar Charity to co-ordinate getting donations transported. Speed does a lot, but would love to do more. ‘I look at the teams from different countries going in to help and I would love to be able to take our group over there and help in person,’ he says.
More information at www.qatarliving.com/group/qatar-living-volunteers.
http://www.timeoutdoha.com/community/features/13015-help-online
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very encouraging
want I can pay a visit one day and we will discuss. But before that get something in your hand so that we can work on it. :-)
Speed tnx to you.
Welcome to QLVG :-)
Speed i am so sorry to worry you, i can't find 'JOIN' button under the group.
just click 'JOIN' under this Group: http://www.qatarliving.com/group/qatar-living-volunteers
Also let us know what Volunteer activities we can do in Al Khor such as 1) Beach Cleaning 2) Blood Donation 3) Helping needy and poor people or visiting hospitals.
Once you are ready just come to QL and create a thread under QLVG and post your program details in AL Khor.
A Team of QLVG there to support you :-)
God Bless You
Speed, let me know how to join in this group and being a active member. I am in Al Khor. When you plan some activities please let me know.
Good Work Speed,
Keep it up. I will be with u always.
hope to meet you soon on one of your FB event (",)
Wonderful Speed..... proud to know you :)
2 kids... no new comer... my birthday and wed anniversary already passed?
I think you are talking about SMOKE PARTY ;-) where is smoke?
counting on your support as usual.
keep up the spirit.
you seems to confusing with other group.
We do not have any such restrictions. Anyone can join QLVG anytime.
Coool, QLVG members are allowed to help others but they are not allowed to join QLVG out nights unless they have 200 posts per week. While half of those posts are probably bullshit.
People participating in community work are the true VIPs of QLVG, I dont see any VIPs here.
Welcome to QLVG. Don't only join and sit and wait for our email :-) ,
I always encourage our volunteers to come up with your own idea, start your own campaigns such as Blood Donation, Beach Cleaning, Distribution of Cold water during summer, visit to Hospitals etc....
God Bless you all
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"I shall pass through this world but once.
Any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being,
let me do it now.
Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." - Etienne de Grellet
To Join QLVG click here: http://www.qatarliving.com/group/qatar-living-volunteers
Dear Speed,
A commendable job and a true inspiration to the mankind. I have just joined today the QLVG. Would definitely extend every possible way, I can do to the mankind in this part of the world.
Regards,
Laksh65
SambaCool you can join the group on QL, just go to "groups" on the top of the page, scroll down to Qatar Living Volunteer Group and click on it and join. Then you can see what they are doing and when.
Real macho ^_-
leme guess !!
Speed, you are not suppose to call humans a Dunlop, Pirelli or Yokohama :p
and all others who have always been very supportive to QLVG calls.
You guys are the wheels of QLVG who are moving at a high SPEED ;-)
Good job speed pra jee. Irfi bro thanks for sharing this
Well Done Speed Pa ji...Keep up the good work...our support will be with you always...
Bravo Speed bhai and the other Volunteers for their excellent work !!
best of luck for ur future jobs...
I have never met Speed but i think he looks like my cars Speedometer...:)
and indeed you have taken QL to a respectable position.
Speed Pra..excellent work!!!
Will always be there to support you.
Thanks Irf77 for sharing the article. It was indeed pleasure reading it.
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Have Courage To Live.
Anyone Can Die.
in your next volunteer actions..I'll be very happy to do something for the ppl in need. Can I join the Volunteer Group pls?
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Just CHILL with Marlboro Lights - Selected fine Tobaccos
Well done to all the volunteers, and especially Speed, only Allah can pay you for your good deeds.
Sorry could not join you guys yesterday.
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Can We Fix It?
Yes We Can!
a very worthy endeavor.
one main reason why i joined the qatar living.
These are great initiatives and good luck to all of your future endeavors!
Congratulations and thank you to all..
To be even a micro level part of this group... I feel so proud...
yes I do waste time n energy in very many unproductive things... :)
but I guess few moments towards QLVG compensate for all those wrongs done :)
Ahm Ahm.... Speed.. we want party we want party we want partyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy :)
Why ?
Simply.. since when do we need a reason to be happy n celebrate :p
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Men will wrangle for religion, write for it, fight for it, die for it, anything but live for it
good writeup...and great going...keep it up...
Please don't thank me. I had nothing to do with this.
SPEED and all the others did a good job. Om Maui I think started the idea, so a pat on the back for her efforts. !
Pictures please .
I always give advice to all my friends not to waste their time in unnecessary chatting or meetings .. DO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE for your community....
Irf77... you are indeed doing a great job.. we need more people like you.. I will meet you soon to discuss your plans, Inshah'Allah your dream to help your community people will come true.
Jazak'Allah Khair and God bless you all.
Great job Speed, as usual! kudos to all QLVG members as well.
Jazak Allah Khair !!!
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tEaCh Me RulEs I'lL tEaCh YoU hOw To BrEaK iT -rMs!
MASHALLAH :)
Well done Speed, Xray and Pitstop
All the very best for your future projects.
(Perfectly written, good job Irfan bro)
sweet.. :D
+| Jokk3R |+
Good work .. keep it up !!!
MashAllah, well done Speed, Pitstop, Xray and countless others :))
ALLAH HU AKBAR - GOD IS GREAT