10-05-2025
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.
