Volunteers welcome fans to Education City Stadium as FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021™ unfolds

Qatar Foundation university students are being given the opportunity to volunteer as the FIFA Arab Cup 2021™ takes place, welcoming fans as they walk to matches at the Education City Stadium.

As visitors head from the designated drop zones to the stadium, they will be able to experience Qatar Foundation’s (QF) vibrant community, with live performances, interactive elements, and an art mural, and volunteers highlighting the importance of healthy living and sustainability while celebrating the Arabic language.

“Volunteering for this is particularly important to me,” says Saudi Arabian Sawsan Al-Hashimi, a Qatar Academy Sidra (QAS) graduate, which is part of QF’s Pre-University Education. “This is an event that will bring all Arabs together, and I am helping people learn more about Qatar Foundation.

“Visitors are very reactive to the information we provide about QF, especially when it comes to sustainability. And we, as volunteers, are trying to take advantage of this by highlighting more environmental standards and practices in place at QF, especially in light of a major sporting event.”

And Al-Hashimi is not only trying to enhance the public’s knowledge of why QF is special in terms of its efforts within the fields of education, research, and community development, but is also keen to convey her own experience at QAS – and her immersion in Education City.

“Riding a horse at Al Shaqab, reading a book at the Qatar National Library, and volunteering at Torba Farmers Market – these were activities that made my memories here great. I would like everyone to realize how Education City has helped to shape my personality, and how I have furthered my goals of making an impact in society,” Al-Hashimi says.

Rola Mustafa is an Iraqi student at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, a member of QF, and – as a football fan – is excited to be participating as a volunteer.

“It is a dream come true, to volunteer as an important event takes place inside Education City, of which I am proud to belong to, and because it is related to football, which is the game I have loved since I was a child when I used to play as a goalkeeper,” says Mustafa.

"It is very exciting to welcome fans and to meet players from different Arab countries – this is truly an unforgettable experience.”

According to Mustafa, visitors are very interested in learning about Education City, especially QF’s sustainability efforts, with the stadium being a prime example of Qatar’s commitment to upholding eco-friendly practices.

“The design of buildings, academic institutes, and centers within Education City is also something that amazes visitors, and the idea of the universities being linked to each other, which is very unique,” she says.

Mustafa also sees her volunteering as an opportunity to learn more about football, which may help her to specialize in a field that combines her studies of translation at HBKU with her passion for the sport.

Fatima Al-Janahi, a Bahraini student from Northwestern University in Qatar, says that volunteering is a priority for her – and something she really enjoys.

“I have had many volunteer experiences with QF, the last one was in the Afghan refugee camps, an experience that changed my view of life, and taught me a lot about appreciating what we have. And today I am getting the opportunity to experience the FIFA Arab Cup 2021™,” Al-Janahi explains.

Al-Janahi joined QF six years ago and says every day she discovers something new about Education City – and is delighted to be able to share what she knows with visitors.

“This is my second home, which I visit even at the weekend. And what I would like to convey to the fans is that Education City is not just a venue that brings together several universities, but rather it houses a unique environment that embraces all member of the community - encouraging interaction, communication, and lifelong learning,” says Al-Janahi.

“We are having a wonderful time volunteering – this event is bringing so much joy to people, which makes us wonder what the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ will be like.”

Part of a wider volunteering program at QF, the participants took part in a number of training sessions in the lead up to the matches.