More than $15 million raised at ROTA gala dinner for education initiatives

Reach Out To Asia's (ROTA) Gala Dinner raised more than $15 million to help fund education initiatives across Asia and the Middle East.

The event on Saturday was attended by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father Emir, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.

Also in attendance was Al Waleed Bin Talal from Saudi Arabia, Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani and Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani, among other members of the royal family.

"The world today is afflicted by many conflicts, and as these conflicts increase and spread to new areas, so do the challenges," Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, Chairperson of ROTA, said in her address to guests on the evening.

"Most prevalent among these is the refugee crisis; an issue that causes millions of children to be deprived of education."

"An obvious example is Syria, where there are more than five million children deprived of education and 400 thousand others which are at risk of leaving school."

"These new challenges require us to double our efforts and work together to overcome them."

Guests watched a special screening of a film documenting how ROTA Goodwill Ambassador Ghanim Al Muftah raised QR1million through his ‘With you, we reach one million riyals’ campaign.

Al Muftah founded the campaign in January 2015 in a bid to raise the money to fund the rehabilitation of sporting facilities in Palestinian refugee camps in southern Lebanon.

Teacher and volunteer Ahmad Al Sawafiri was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Gala Dinner for his ongoing commitment to education and working with children in the Middle East.

The 25-year-old Palestinian lost both of his legs and his left hand in an Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip in 2008.

Following the attack, Al Sawafiri devoted his life to educating children. He continues to inspire thousands of young people across the Arab world, sharing his story of triumph in the face of adversity.

A Sotheby’s charity auction saw intense bidding on a number of rare items on the evening.

These included a Patek Philippe’s dome table clock and a Qatari Natural Jeewan pearl necklace donated by Al Majed Jewellery; a Louis Moinet Mecanograph limited edition watch donated by Alfardan Jewellery; a Hermès men’s trunk donated by Mr Wissam Al Mana; a 2017 BMW M3 30 Jahre Limited Edition donated by Alfardan Automobiles; and – incredibly - a trip to the edge of space for two.

Proceeds from the auction will be used to fund existing and future education initiatives that support numerous underprivileged youth organised by ROTA.

These include Syrian Refugees through its ‘Longing to Learn’ programme in Lebanon; the ‘I Had a Dream’ initiative in Jordan; and ‘Project Tomorrow’ in Turkey. Other ROTA initiatives that will receive funding include the ‘Opportunities for Life’ programme in Bangladesh, the ‘Bringing Back Hope’ project in Yemen, and the ‘1 in 11’ campaign in Indonesia, in partnership with UNICEF and FC Barcelona Foundation.