1. Social Development
Through social development programs, the Crescent seeks to raise the standard of living of the vulnerable groups in society so that they can cope with the burdens of life and enjoy safe living through a large number of diverse programs, such as
- Economic and social empowerment programs to provide financial and in-kind assistance to vulnerable groups to cover living expenses.
- Vocational empowerment programs to support families, especially women through specialized professional and academic courses.
- Academic empowerment programs to assist students who are unable to complete their education by paying their tuition fees in part or in full.
- Health Empowerment Programs through the Patients Helping Fund to cover some or all of the costs of treatment, operations and medicines for patients who are unable to pay.
- Emergency assistance programs to provide urgent assistance to needy people who are exposed to some emergency situations such as fire, etc.
- Psychosocial support programs to help vulnerable groups cope with their difficult circumstances and try to overcome them.
- Supply program for qualifying, training and taking care of inmates of penal institutions in order to help them to proper integration into society again once they have served their sentences.
- Kidney transplant project in cooperation with Hamad Medical Corporation in case of serious renal failure.
- Annual cultural and social programs, such as "Chant and Rise", "The Outstanding Students", "My Wish" and "Affection Breakfast".
- Seasonal aids, including Ramadan in-kind assistance, Zakat al-Fitr, Eid Clothings, school vouchers, food vouchers, food aid and miscellaneous assistance
2.Training and Qualification
The Crescent offers lectures, training courses and workshops for community members and institutions to provide them with the knowledge and skills required to deal with various types of emergencies and crises, raise awareness and educate them on community health and International Humanitarian Law, and promote the culture of volunteering as well as recruitment and rehabilitation of volunteers, and increase the efficiency of medical personnel.
In the field of Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction, the Crescent annually carries out a disaster management training camp under the slogan "Effective preparedness and better response" with the participation of hundreds of volunteers from various governmental and non governmental organizations in Qatar, and national, Arab and international associations. The training program includes two aspects, theoretical and practical, in 16 specialties. At the end of the training a realistic scenario of a virtual disaster is executed, to apply all that has been learned during the camp. Throughout the year, the Crescent organizes several basic and advanced disaster management courses, aiming to enhance the skills of volunteers and local community in the field of preparedness, rescue, coordination and leadership in emergencies.
The Crescent also organizes lectures and training courses on first aid and maritime rescue at schools, universities, companies and governmental and non-governmental institutions to ensure proper handling of injuries and emergencies, whether for oneself or for others, including the basics of first aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and how to deal with many cases such as suffocation, bleeding, burns and other injuries, as well as proper methods of transporting the injured.
Qatar Red Crescent is interested in training and continuous education for its volunteers and medical teams in order to raise their level and update them on the latest developments in the field of emergency medical services, through the implementation of the latest training and scientific programs adopted by the world's leading bodies such as the European Heart Association, the American Heart Association and the International Federation, and with the help of a training staff having the highest level of scientific and technical qualification in the State of Qatar.
3.Awareness Raising and Education
In the context of its keen interest in health awareness and education, the Crescent launches programs and campaigns throughout the year to spread preventive health habits and distribute awareness brochures and personal hygiene kits among members of society, especially expatriate workers, including the National Communicable Disease Prevention Campaign (Weqaya), Ramadan Crescent Campaign and “Thank you” campaign, in addition to the participation to many events and health exhibitions inside Qatar.
In the same context, the annual workshop "Public Health Management in Crises" (H.E.L.P) is organized by the Crescent in collaboration with the ICRC and the University of Calgary- Qatar, with the participation of a group of lecturers and specialists from various national and international organizations. The workshop covers various topics related to planning, food security, public health, epidemic management, health care systems, International Humanitarian Law and refugee protection. It targets various categories of workers in the health field such as doctors, nurses, nutritionists, environmental engineers, epidemiologists and public health professionals.
From Health and relief education to social and vocational education, the Hilal Rail ريل الهلال Project, which offers educational seminars for young people of both sexes on various social, educational and psychological issues that concern their lives and future. The Crescent also organizes a "Starting Point" program in cooperation with the British Council, under the supervision of the British Spring Board; this program includes a curriculum, workshops and practical activities for the development of women's capacities, enhancement of their self-confidence in both career and entrepreneurship fields, as well as the organization of lectures and seminars about religious, social and family education in social clubs and youth centers.
Finally, the Crescent pays special attention to spreading the culture of International Humanitarian Law and human rights through the organization of educational lectures on this subject in schools, universities and military colleges, including Ahmed bin Mohammed Military College, which sends every year a delegation of students in a periodic protocol to visit to the headquarters of the Crescent, to deliver a lecture on the origins of the international movement and its basic objectives and principles, the International Humanitarian Law and its pillars, the four Geneva Conventions and their two additional protocols, as well as a tour inside the headquarters to identify the departments and activities of the Crescent in the service of the Qatari community.
4.Medical programs and services
Medical services are one of the most important areas of work of the Crescent at the local level, in light of its mission to improve the lives of the vulnerable and provide comprehensive human development, especially with regard to health and safety. As a supporter of the organs of state in Qatar in fulfilling their responsibilities and implementing their community policies, the Crescent strives to improve public health in the country. Like Qatari governmental or non governmental institutions, it plays a key role in achieving the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030, in which human development, including health care, is one of the cornerstones.
Qatar Red Crescent is keen to diversify its activities and services in the field of health to include various aspects such as urgent and advanced medical care, health education, security and safety procedures in the factories, as well as the various community groups such as employees, students of schools and universities, workers, housewives, elderly and athletes, with a diversity of these services and activities between seasonal and permanent.
Commissioned by the Qatari government, Qatar Red Crescent is responsible for the management, operation and development of the official emergency medical system of the state. The system has witnessed significant expansions over the past years, where the number of ambulances in the Crescent reached 54 vehicles equipped with the latest medical technology and operated by highly trained emergency teams. These vehicles are distributed to different regions in the country in order to be ready when an emergency situation occurs.
With its cars and medical personnel, the Crescent participates in covering and securing most of the local and international conferences, entertainment events and festivals held in the country and witnessing a massive public turnout, especially the National Day celebrations, the Sports Day, Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha, in addition to most tourist events held in Souq Waqif and the exhibition grounds.
In the field of health care, the Crescent manages the workers Health centers funded by the Supreme Council of Health in the framework of the partnership agreement between them. The centers provide medical care, medicines and health education for male expatriates at nominal prices. It also administers medical commission units that conduct medical examinations for foreigners who wish to obtain residence permits.
The Crescent also provides marine rescue services and quick aid to the visitors of the "Sealine" beach throughout the year, in accordance with an agreement with the Qatar Olympic Committee, and runs a number of first aid centers that serve the major shopping malls and workers such as Villaggio, Hayat Plaza and Aspire Zone, in addition to the partnership agreement with ASPETAR hospital for the insurance of athletes and the crowds during trainings and the various sports competitions, and the provision of cars and ambulance teams around the clock in the factories of some companies such as Qatar Steel and Qatar Fertilizer (QAFCO) to insure the highest standards of safety and security and immediate intervention in the event of any injuries among employees.
Last but not least, the Crescent performs medical programs related to certain seasons, such as the Ramadan Medical Project, during which the Crescent Medical Personnel deliver lectures for health awareness and conduct free medical examinations for mosque-goers throughout the country during the month of Ramadan and also provide medical teams accompanying the Qatari mission in the Hajj season to the holy sites, in order to follow the health situation of the Qatari pilgrims visiting the House of God and provide medical intervention when necessary, under the supervision of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs.
5.Advocacy of Community Issues
Being aware of the issues and concerns of Qatari community, the Crescent, like other relevant social institutions, have a share of responsibility for dealing with these issues, in an attempt to diagnose them and identify their nature and suggest steps to be taken in the interest of the community as a whole, and strengthen the image of the State of Qatar at home and abroad.
The most important thing that the Crescent has done in this regard is the organization of a major international conference entitled "Doha Dialogue on Migration 2014" in cooperation with the International Federation of National Societies, with a view to finding a platform to discuss migration issues, the opportunities it creates and the challenges it presents, and using learned lessons to improve the situation of migrant workers considered as one of the major factors in the Qatari community, and the main factors in the economic and urban development witnessed by the beloved Qatar, for it represents the hands that transform the development plans and programs formulated by the Qatari minds into reality, to build the factories and the production and service units , and create roads, facilities and construction in every corner of the country.