Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) Gala Dinner

In the Name of God the Merciful the Compassionate

Your Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Founder of Qatar Foundation,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome to this Gala Dinner organized by ROTA. We are all present here despite our various backgrounds because we share the same conviction in the human values of charitable work and believe in its ideals. Charitable work has become one of our major contemporary world workshops, and this makes us very happy.

Human intelligence, which is not confined to a particular ethnic group, gender or belief, was able to bring us closer together, unite our capabilities and combine our efforts in order to combat all the coercions faced by the legitimate right of humanity to live in dignity and freedom presently and at any time and place.

I believe it is no longer permissible to accept these classifications which spread us between North and South. We have to adopt concepts of global citizenship and common destiny and to enable our societies through humanitarian work, to transcend frontiers and barriers. What is needed then is to offer solutions and creative and practical alternatives. We should all make sure that quality charitable work is provided by making of it, on a permanent basis, a part of a strategic vision for sustainable human development.

In Qatar, our vision considers charitable work to be an institutional work, such a vision is inspired by our values based on solidarity and cooperation as well as by our conviction in global citizenship and in being a part of this world. Hence, charitable work as part of this vision represents the path towards enhancing the democratic practice and the society of institutions.

It is a recognition of the role of civil society and its vivacity as a strategic partner and as a party in the exchange of roles and as a complement to general initiatives according to international standards based on professionalism, neutrality, diversity, commitment, volunteering and taking initiatives. In addition, charitable work is not confined to providing financial support, but it also seeks to value time, appreciate skills, support human effort and enhance independence. That is why we are proud of the roles assumed by our Qatari organizations in building strategic partnerships in order to achieve the objectives of charitable work inside and outside our country.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I firmly believe that hundreds of millions of people around us all over the world suffering from hunger, malnutrition, disease, ignorance and injustice are unaware of our gala dinner.

Let us take this opportunity to build bridges of communication with them and to reach out to them so that they can live with complete dignity.

Thank You.