Qatar Foundation (QF) announced the launch of its Akhlaquna Award initiative, designed to recognise and celebrate young people who display exemplary moral character towards the good of humanity.

Speaking on the launch of Akhlaquna, QF President of Community Development Machaille Al-Naimi said that the Akhlaquna Award aims to inspire the community and empower the next generation of leaders in Qatar.

We encourage all members of the community to get involved in this exciting initiative, which aims to promote universal values such as mercy, tolerance, honesty, and generosity. Indeed, at Qatar Foundation we seek to embody local culture and foster social engagement as part of our community development mission area, and these values, which effectively underpin the concept of Akhlaquna, are central to our Islamic heritage.’

The Akhlaquna Award was first announced by HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, during the QF Convocation 2017 ceremony, where she spoke before the 765 graduates of QF’s nine universities. In her speech, she said that ‘knowledge and morality are interlinked’; that ‘morals guide knowledge towards the good of humanity’, and that they are intertwined. She also pointed out that ‘no civilisation has flourished without the pillars of knowledge and morality’.

Mohammed Fakhroo, Community Outreach Director at QF, said that to qualify for the Akhlaquna Award, candidates should have developed projects and initiatives that strive to serve the community.

At QF, we are delighted to celebrate these individuals, who personalise the values that distinguish the Prophet (PBUH), and to provide them with the support and guidance they need in order to build a better society.’

QF has now begun accepting nominations for the 2018 Akhlaquna Award through its dedicated website. Members of the public are invited to nominate individuals, 15 to 35 years old, who they believe are involved in initiatives eligible for the award. Deadline for submission of nominations is 31 March.

Eligibility for the award will go to individuals considered to best embody the four selected morals of the Akhlaquna initiative. Nominees can be Qatari nationals or residents in Qatar and can include local or international initiatives which need not be based in the country. The scope of the submitted initiatives should include characteristics that embody one or more of the selected universal values.

A judging panel has been established to review all nominations, and finalists will be shortlisted for public voting through an online platform. The winner of the inaugural Akhlaquna Award will receive mentorship for their initiatives. The winner will be announced during Convocation 2018 on 1 May.

For more information, visit the Akhlaquna Award website. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram