In an effort to create a culture where giving back is central to life in Qatar – and mirroring Qatar Foundation’s values of excellence, integrity, community, innovation, and rootedness – students across its schools are encouraged to volunteer. Some schools even require students to complete a set number of volunteering hours to graduate.

Sara H. Al-Hajri, Director of Student Affairs & Community Engagement for Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Pre-University Education (PUE), said: “True education is not confined to the classroom, it is lived through action, service, and a shared commitment to making a difference.”

She highlighted that educators within QF schools have the responsibility to lead by example, and ensuring that “our actions reflect the values we instill in students. By embodying principles through acts of service, we nurture socially-responsible individuals who understand that service to others is essential for personal and collective growth.”

At just 16 years of age, Hana Al-Khater, an Education City High School student, already has 200 hours of volunteering under her belt, having been involved in a wide variety of activities, including at various local and international sporting events, Doha Expo 2023, and a veterinary center.

Al-Khater was 12 years old when she first volunteered at a local sporting event and there has been no looking back since. Today, Al-Khater is not just a high school student, but also a member of the Qatar National Women’s Volleyball team. 

Despite a very busy life between her academic and sporting commitments, she continues to find the time to volunteer. “Volunteering has become a part of who I am. I can’t imagine my life without it,” she says. “And I think the reason it’s become so ingrained in me is because I started young – credit for which goes to my teachers, who encouraged me at a formative stage in life, one in which I was picking up habits that eventually shaped me into the person I am today.”

When asked what it is that drives her to volunteer, Al-Khater said to her volunteering is all about the sense of community: “Just like in sports, where every player has a role and the team depends on each member, I see our communities the same way. 

“Every person has a responsibility, and we all need to step up and contribute for the greater good. It’s that feeling of making a real difference that fuels my passion for volunteering. It’s my way of doing my part to help the community thrive.”

Encouraging more young people to volunteer, Al-Khater said: “It’s easy to get comfortable in the little bubble we live in, and while that bubble may feel safe, it does little for our personal growth. 

“Volunteering offers the chance to step outside that bubble, have experiences you wouldn’t usually encounter, and meet people you might not otherwise cross paths with. Every experience and every person presents an opportunity to learn and grow. And the best part is, you get all of that exposure without any pressure.”

According to her, volunteering has taught her enough to write a book – with the most valuable life-lesson she has learned being integrity. “There are days when I’m exhausted and would rather stay home, and since I’m not receiving any compensation, there are no immediate consequences for not showing up,” she says.

“But I still do, because I made a commitment. Keeping my word and following through is something I now absolutely hold myself to in all walks of life.”

When asked how her family feels about her volunteering, she said initially her parents were a bit reluctant because it meant she was spending more time away from home. “But over time, thanks to the constant support from my siblings, cousins and extended family, they started to see the value in what I was doing. Today, they’re my biggest supporters – always the first to send me new volunteering opportunities they come across.”

A changemaker in action, Al-Khater’s passion for volunteering has sparked a ripple effect within her family and friends. Inspired by her, her siblings, cousins and friends have also embraced volunteering, continuing the cycle of giving back.