Reach out to Asia Partners with Mercy Corps
- Two Agencies Collaborate to Support Relief and Educational Projects across Asia and the Middle East
Qatar-based organization Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) today announced that it has signed an agreement with Mercy Corps, an international relief and development organization, to build more prosperous and just communities across the Middle East and Asia.
In the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed today, both nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) would commit resources to jointly support their aims and objectives. These include promoting access to quality education, and helping to alleviate the suffering of people in communities recovering from disasters, conflicts and economic collapse.
ROTA's Chairperson, Her Excellency, Sheikha Mayassa Bint Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, said: "We are very excited and privileged to have secured this partnership because it will reinforce our capabilities and enable more effective support for deprived communities in Asia and the Middle East."
"As an affirmation of our commitment to empowering people in less privileged societies, ROTA has committed a substantial amount of resources over the next five years to raise literacy levels and empower people to improve their lives, especially in Iraq and other communities in turmoil," she added.
Priority projects for the pilot phase of the collaboration will involve supporting initiatives like youth education and cultural activities, information technology training, women's literacy programs, as well as rehabilitation of schools and community centers. ROTA and Mercy Corps will also collaborate to support self-empowerment initiatives for refugees and literacy programs for women and migrant workers in Qatar.
"We are thrilled to enter into this partnership with ROTA, an organization that shares our aim to improve the lives of vulnerable people in the Middle East," said Neal Keny-Guyer, CEO of Mercy Corps. "We will combine the strengths of our organizations to bring innovative solutions to some of the region's most pressing problems, such as youth unemployment."
Staff members of Mercy Corps will be seconded to work with ROTA in Qatar to maximize the partnership. Both organizations will work together on institutional capacity building strategic planning, and program design, especially in the area of children and conflict.
The MOU will be valid for an initial period of five years after which it may be extended by mutual agreement.
