DOHA, QATAR— In 2011, 40,000 people in Qatar were involved in accidents and 204 people were killed. Since 2007, the number of traffic-related injuries has doubled, according to the Qatar Statistic Authority. Despite a growing number of casualties, many people still drive too fast and don’t buckle up, said Mohammed Al Matwi, a student at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. But the business administration student plans to tackle the issue with his own road safety campaign.
Al Matwi was chosen as a winner in Vodafone Qatar’s ‘World of Difference’ program for his ‘Ahmeek’ campaign. ‘Ahmeek,’ meaning ‘I will protect you’ in Arabic, is a community awareness campaign comprised of silent flash mob performances depicting the consequences of reckless driving.
As one of three winners, Al Matwi will receive one year of funding from Vodafone Qatar to implement his project, during which he will undergo regular mentoring and gain access to key networking opportunities.
“Giving someone like Mohammed the opportunity to tackle such an issue may prove that it takes just one good idea to make a difference, as opposed to repetitive campaigns,” said Dana Haidan, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Vodafone Qatar and a Carnegie Mellon Qatar alumna. “Ahmeek won because it addresses the pressing issue of dangerous driving and road accidents among Qatar’s youth. We loved the creativity and the means of expression, particularly coming from someone of that target audience.”
Al Matwi, chosen from 150 applicants, applied to the Vodafone Qatar’s World of Difference program after winning the Doha Community Engagement Program (DECP) at Carnegie Mellon, a program that encourages students to find innovative ways to address social issues in Qatar.
As a World of Difference winner, Al Matwi’s will be able to bring the Ahmeek campaign to the wider community, including schools, souqs and malls. “My chosen means of expression is not only heart-warming but also new to Qatar, and I wanted the community itself to participate and drive this campaign,” he said.
A recently conducted poll by leading jobsite bayt.com revealed that while 95 percent of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) respondents want to do more community service work, 41 percent don’t know where to start. At Carnegie Mellon, community outreach is an important concept for students to grasp. Throughout their academic lives, students have multiple opportunities to become involved in community-service activities and trips.
DCEP is just one of the university’s service programs encouraging students to drive forward initiatives that raise awareness of social issues through community engagement.
“Carnegie Mellon constantly inspires students to realize just how big their role in the community can be,” added Haidan. “Community engagement is a journey of self-discovery that prepares one for the job market, which is why, I believe, CMU graduates are so highly sought after.”
To learn more about ‘Ahmeek’ please visit facebook page ‘Ahmeek Campaign’ and follow ‘Ahmeek’ on Instagram.
