Gulf youths 'avoid social work'

Doha: Young people from the Gulf avoid volunteering and social work even as civil service organisations struggle to encourage participation and promote a culture of solidarity, complained activists.

"Young generations are indifferent to the concept of voluntarism and social work just for the sake of helping others without a profit. It is a sad reality," Mohammad Al Qubaisi, manager of Qatar's Cultural Children Centre, told Gulf News.

"Our civil societies' organisations struggle to attract the youngsters to any social activity but selfishness prevails."

Civil society organisations in Qatar and the rest of the Gulf region started in recent years. They try to promote the culture of voluntarism, solidarity and participation in society building values that are not popular in the young Gulf societies, activists said.

"The sudden and overwhelming prosperity of young Gulf nationals is paralysing their ambition and interest in the growth of their society.

"We have to educate them from their childhood to become active members of their societies," said Al Qubaisi. He was speaking on the sidelines of a forum of Arab civil societies aimed at improving coordination and exchange of information among 96 participating organisations from across the Middle East and to find ways to enhance their role in economic development.

Mona Juma Al Bahar, Assistant Professor, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, UAE University, said the civil service organisations in the UAE hardly get any public participation.

"In the UAE we have a lot of non-governmental organisations but how effective they are is an open question. The problem is there is little participation on behalf of the people, because the culture of voluntarism and social responsibility is not there," she said.

Participants in the forum stressed that at a time when the region faces crucial political and social developments, civil societies have a fundamental role together with governments and the private sector. However, involvement of the public remains fundamental.

"Civil societies operate in a number of fields such as health, education, human rights. Their activities impact positively the economy and the social tissue. This is why we are here, to find ways to strengthen our role. But we need more public participation," said Iraqi activist Nawzad Al Hity.

In some Arab countries like Palestine, civil societies replace the government's role in providing basic services. In others, they endorse the battle for political participation where political parties are banned.

"In Palestine, civil service societies are essential to the survival of the community," said Prof Fakhri Hassan, president of Hebron University.