ALF honours ‘Farm Your Country' programme winning schools
Tribune News Network
Doha
Al Faisal Without Borders Foundation (ALF) hosted a ceremony to honour schools that have excelled in the 2024–2025 edition of the 'Farm Your Country' programme. Organised in partnership with the Ministry of Municipality — represented by the Public Parks Department — and in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the event celebrated student achievement in sustainable agriculture.
The ceremony was graced by the presence of Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, chairman of ALF; Hamad Khalifa Al Khalifa, assistant undersecretary for shared services affairs at the Ministry of Municipality; Eng. Abdullatif Ali Al-Yafei, general manager of ALF; Sheikh Suhaim bin Abdullah Al Thani, events and communications officer at the Public Parks Department, and a number of educational and executive leaders from both ministries.
Marking its tenth consecutive year, the programme engaged 500 students across 46 public and private schools, providing hands-on agricultural education. To date, Farm Your Country has benefited over 3,500 students, imparting knowledge about growing vegetables and ornamental plants—skills that not only enhance school gardens but also encourage self-reliance and environmental stewardship.
As part of its annual tradition, ALF awarded the Excellence Prize to the top-performing school of the agricultural season. This prestigious accolade includes the creation of a fully integrated botanical garden within the winning school—a vital initiative aimed at promoting green sustainability and leaving a lasting educational impact.
On Sunday, May 4, a sustainable botanical garden was officially inaugurated at Ruqayya Preparatory School for Girls, the recipient of the previous season's Excellence Prize. The garden, complete with a greenhouse and diverse flora, stands as a model for combining environmental awareness with academic learning.
This year, Jassim Bin Hamad Secondary School for Boys was announced as the winner of the Excellence Prize for the 2024–2025 academic season.
Speaking at the event, Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani expressed his pride in the achievements of the participating schools. 'Our programmes are designed to equip students with scientific, engineering, and technical skills that support both academic excellence and future careers. The level of competition this year reflects how deeply students engaged with the objectives of the initiative,' he said, while extending gratitude to the Ministry of Municipality and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education for their continued support.
Eng. Abdullatif Al-Yafei reiterated the Foundation's unwavering commitment to sustainability, stating: 'Raising awareness about agricultural environments and the value of self-sufficiency is essential to building strong individuals and societies. Teaching students to grow their own food contributes directly to Qatar's food security.'
Sheikh Suhaim bin Abdullah Al Thani also highlighted the strength of the tripartite partnership between the Public Parks Department, ALF, and the Ministry of Education.
'This collaboration is instrumental in promoting sustainability and hands-on agricultural learning, both of which align with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030,' he noted.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
04-06-2025
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar to host 2026 Nobel Sustainability Awards Ceremony
DOHA: The Nobel Sustainability Trust (NST) has officially announced the selection of Doha as the host city for the 2026 Nobel Sustainability Awards Ceremony. This prestigious choice reflects the growing international recognition of Qatar's leading role in advancing sustainable development, promoting smart and sustainable economies, and driving innovative urban solutions. The announcement was made during a high-level event recently held in Miami, USA, where Qatar was also confirmed as the official sponsor of the 2025 awards ceremony scheduled to take place this December. During the event, NST President Peter Nobel received an official letter from HE Minister of Municipality Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiyah, confirming Qatar's hosting of the 2026 global event. In his remarks at the ceremony, Peter Nobel said: "From the shores of Miami to the smart cities of Qatar, the global need for comprehensive, innovation-driven sustainability solutions is evident. Hosting the awards across multiple continents reflects our commitment to advancing sustainable development and smart governance worldwide." In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Municipality indicated that Qatar's hosting of this prestigious event underscores the country's genuine commitment to embedding comprehensive sustainability principles on the global stage. It further affirms Qatar's distinguished standing in the field, particularly in light of the ongoing programs and initiatives spearheaded by the Ministry of Municipality under the Third National Development Strategy (2024–2030), which prioritizes the development of smart cities, adoption of digital infrastructure, and the optimization of resource efficiency. The Ministry of Municipality has played a pivotal role in advancing urban sustainability through smart urban planning, modernization of public service systems, and the integration of sustainable transportation - efforts that were clearly demonstrated during Qatar's hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 through the delivery of seamless services powered by innovation and technology. The 2025 awards ceremony is set to take place on Dec 4 at the historic Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami, with the participation of prominent global figures from the fields of sustainability, technology, and economics. The event will honor distinguished international leaders across three categories: Leadership in Implementation, Smart and Sustainable City Solutions, and Innovation-Driven Economic Diversification. The NST was established by members of the Nobel family as an independent organization, with no administrative affiliation to the original Nobel Foundation. NST aims to promote global sustainable development by honoring groundbreaking innovations and impactful initiatives, encouraging collaborative research, and supporting international dialogue on sustainable energy, smart cities, circular economy, and good governance. The NST Awards are granted annually in three main categories. The selection process is conducted through rigorous evaluation by two independent international committees, under academic supervision from the Institute for Advanced Studies at the Technical University of Munich.
Qatar Tribune
29-05-2025
- Qatar Tribune
Municipalities gear up for Eid Al-Adha
Continued from page 1 Al Wakrah also initiated an inspection and awareness campaign focused on traditional food restaurants to ensure compliance with health standards and to educate workers on proper food handling procedures as part of its Eid preparations. Municipalities such as Umm Salal, Al Khor, Al Thakhira, and Al Daayen organised comprehensive operational plans for Eid Al-Adha. These include enhancing the readiness of sanitation teams to operate around the clock, intensifying cleaning efforts in residential neighbourhoods, markets, and high-traffic areas, and organising traditional markets and livestock markets to ensure smooth operations in coordination with security authorities. Supervision of abattoirs has been enhanced through increased operational capacity, additional work shifts, and the inclusion of veterinary inspectors to examine animals and ensure their wellbeing. To maintain cleanliness during and after the slaughter process, the number of waste collection personnel and equipment has been doubled. Field patrols in neighbourhoods and markets have been intensified and additional waste bins have been distributed at key locations. A rapid response system for reports and complaints will be available through the unified call center. The Ministry of Municipality asks the public to adhere to the use of licensed abattoirs for animal slaughter, avoid random and unsupervised practices, and cooperate with sanitation teams to maintain a clean and safe environment. The ministry emphasised that the success of these efforts relies on the awareness and cooperation of the entire community.
Qatar Tribune
10-05-2025
- Qatar Tribune
ALF honours ‘Farm Your Country' programme winning schools
Tribune News Network Doha Al Faisal Without Borders Foundation (ALF) hosted a ceremony to honour schools that have excelled in the 2024–2025 edition of the 'Farm Your Country' programme. Organised in partnership with the Ministry of Municipality — represented by the Public Parks Department — and in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, the event celebrated student achievement in sustainable agriculture. The ceremony was graced by the presence of Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, chairman of ALF; Hamad Khalifa Al Khalifa, assistant undersecretary for shared services affairs at the Ministry of Municipality; Eng. Abdullatif Ali Al-Yafei, general manager of ALF; Sheikh Suhaim bin Abdullah Al Thani, events and communications officer at the Public Parks Department, and a number of educational and executive leaders from both ministries. Marking its tenth consecutive year, the programme engaged 500 students across 46 public and private schools, providing hands-on agricultural education. To date, Farm Your Country has benefited over 3,500 students, imparting knowledge about growing vegetables and ornamental plants—skills that not only enhance school gardens but also encourage self-reliance and environmental stewardship. As part of its annual tradition, ALF awarded the Excellence Prize to the top-performing school of the agricultural season. This prestigious accolade includes the creation of a fully integrated botanical garden within the winning school—a vital initiative aimed at promoting green sustainability and leaving a lasting educational impact. On Sunday, May 4, a sustainable botanical garden was officially inaugurated at Ruqayya Preparatory School for Girls, the recipient of the previous season's Excellence Prize. The garden, complete with a greenhouse and diverse flora, stands as a model for combining environmental awareness with academic learning. This year, Jassim Bin Hamad Secondary School for Boys was announced as the winner of the Excellence Prize for the 2024–2025 academic season. Speaking at the event, Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani expressed his pride in the achievements of the participating schools. 'Our programmes are designed to equip students with scientific, engineering, and technical skills that support both academic excellence and future careers. The level of competition this year reflects how deeply students engaged with the objectives of the initiative,' he said, while extending gratitude to the Ministry of Municipality and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education for their continued support. Eng. Abdullatif Al-Yafei reiterated the Foundation's unwavering commitment to sustainability, stating: 'Raising awareness about agricultural environments and the value of self-sufficiency is essential to building strong individuals and societies. Teaching students to grow their own food contributes directly to Qatar's food security.' Sheikh Suhaim bin Abdullah Al Thani also highlighted the strength of the tripartite partnership between the Public Parks Department, ALF, and the Ministry of Education. 'This collaboration is instrumental in promoting sustainability and hands-on agricultural learning, both of which align with the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030,' he noted.
