As part of efforts to empower young cadres and encourage their engagement in volunteer work, a seminar was organized by clubs affiliated with the Ministry of Sports and Youth. The seminar aimed to motivate youth to participate in volunteering and contribute to achieving Qatar National Vision 2030. It was held in partnership between the Youth Department of Qatar Sports Club and the Youth Department of Al-Wakrah Sports Club, on the occasion of “Arab Youth Day,” under the patronage of the Ministry’s Youth Affairs Department.

A group of distinguished Qatari youth cadres discussed various forms of volunteer work, including formal volunteering, informal volunteering, and governance volunteering.

Mr. Mohammed Abdul Rahim Al-Haidous, Head of the Youth Department, emphasized that volunteer work covers diverse areas, with formal volunteering being one of the most important. Formal volunteering is organized, where volunteers’ participation is coordinated through guidelines, policies, and procedures set by institutions. An example of formal volunteering includes delivering food to elderly care homes. He defined volunteer work as an activity in which an individual dedicates part of their time and skills to help individuals, communities, or nonprofit organizations without financial compensation. Volunteer work is often managed by civil society organizations, charitable associations, or government entities, such as organizing blood donation campaigns and fundraising activities.

He further explained that informal volunteering refers to voluntary activities that meet social needs within the community, such as volunteering to assist local community members or managing a local group for recreational or sports hobbies. Additionally, volunteering in social work groups is similar to informal volunteering, but the key difference lies in the primary goal of social work groups volunteering, which is to create societal change by supporting specific causes. Examples include volunteering with environmental groups or social advocacy organizations.