The Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) Fundraising Iftar sponsored by Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd. (Oxy Qatar) and Auction held on Wednesday 8th August raised over QR 172,000 for ROTA’s new Non-Formal Education Project in Bangladesh. Addressing the event, ROTA Board Member Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh bin Nasser Al Thani welocmed friends, colleagues, supporters, donors to the first Reach Out To Asia Fundraising Iftar event. She also thanked all supporting and donating corps and institutions of ROTA projects. She noted that it’s wonderful to see so many community-minded and charity-oriented corporations turn out to show their total support for education and underprivileged people. Rota decided to work in Bangladesh more than 5 years ago, specifically in Cox Bazar District which faces the lowest rate of illiteracy, as only 11 to 14% of children and youth complete their basic education. The region is considered as one of the poorest where more than 44% of people living in complete poverty. It is a border region where huge numbers of Broman refugees live, as they embody one of the most human tragedies our world is witnessing today. Despite the many challenges ROTA is facing in that region, we with the partnership with Islamic Aid since 2008, have constructed more than 50 no-formal education centers and provided training for reducing risk disasters for more than 1200 youth and 6000 family members and 100,000 individual. Sheikha Aisha said: I’m confident that your participation tonight will enable us to continue this work, asking God to make us the hope of those unprivileged people during this holly month. Tonight, we share with you a unique photo exhibition featuring photographs taken by ROTA volunteers during their international volunteer trips. This night is the night of giving to the people in these photos, so I respectfully ask you all to support those children to have a safer and brighter future. But first of all I would like to thank our volunteers, as they are the heroes behind this wonderful night to support Bangladesh. Please I call you now to enjoy the photos and bidding generously in the Fundraising Photo Auction Thank You. After a welcoming speech from ROTA Board Member Sheikha Dr. Aisha bint Faleh bin Nasser Al-Thani, 90 guests enjoyed a sumptuous Iftar meal while bidding in a silent auction at the Qatar Foundation Students Center. All proceeds from the ROTA Fundraising Iftar will be invested to construct and maintain 10 non-formal education projects in Bangladesh. Auction exhibits featured photographs taken by volunteers participating in ROTA activities, including international volunteer trips to ROTA projects in Pakistan, Cambodia, Nepal, Indonesia and Bangladesh. In addition to generous donations by ROTA’s corporate sponsors, fundraising efforts by ROTA Volunteers and individuals helped to push the final total way beyond the original target. “Our Fundraising Iftar was truly a testament to the generosity of our donors and the philanthropic spirit of Qatar,” said ROTA Executive Director Essa Al Mannai when speaking about the 172,000QR figure. “Thanks to such overwhelming support, ROTA’s new education projects will give thousands of Bangladeshis hope of a better future.” After initially supporting efforts in the aftermath of Cyclone Sidr which devastated large areas of Bangladesh in 2007, ROTA and Muslim Aid now provide non-formal children’s education, vocational skills for youth and adults and are building a vocational training center which will also act as a cyclone shelter and disaster risk reduction training center In partnership with Muslim Aid, ROTA already supports more than 50 schools in rural areas of Bangladesh and has worked hand-in-hand to provide disaster preparedness training for 1,200 youth, 6,000 family members and 100,000 community members since 2008. Demonstrating ROTA’s long-term commitment to improving the quality of Bangladesh’s education facilities, its ongoing project funding is being invested to provide adequate classroom spaces with good quality lighting, clean water, and washing facilities for students. “The Fundraising Iftar recognised the efforts of ROTA volunteers, supporters, partners and sponsors. Importantly, the photographs on display provided guests with an opportunity to see ROTA activities through the eyes of those engaged in the field,” added Essa Al Mannai. Fundraising Iftar is a key activity in ROTA’s Ramadan Project, sponsored by Oxy Qatar, which includes grocery supplies to impoverished families, house ‘makeover’ renovations for families in need, several Community Iftar events and sharing the joy of Garangao Night alongside children with special needs.