Tourist Guidance Graduation

Al-Qabas Youth Hostels Celebrates the Conclusion of Summer Programs Graduation of the First Class of Deaf Tour Guides Mohammed Abed The ceremony was attended by His Excellency Engineer Yasser bin Abdullah Al-Jamal, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, Mr. Ahmed Hassan Al-Obaidi, Executive Director of Qatar Youth Hostels, and Mr. Omar Al-Jaber, Head of the Tourism Development Sector. The closing ceremony included honoring the graduates of the fourth edition of the Tour Guide Training Program, implemented in partnership with Qatar Tourism. This program marked the first graduation of a class of deaf tour guides, setting a leading example in integrating all segments of society into the development process. Mr. Abdullah Saeed, Head of Public Relations and Communication at Qatar Youth Hostels, stated that the summer of 2025 was a significant milestone for the center. Fifteen male and female volunteers participated, overseeing the implementation of 13 programs and more than 23 high-quality events in the field of tour guiding. This aligns with the strategic objectives of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, which aim to empower and support young people and encourage their community participation to utilize their potential in serving development. Saeed told Al-Qabas that the Youth Hostels' strategy for the coming period includes numerous activities that require the participation of young volunteers and their integration into various sectors, whether in volunteering or guiding, to promote Qatari culture and heritage to the country's visitors. Mohammed Marai Al-Hajri, a volunteer at the Qatar Youth Hostels camp, expressed his delight at participating in the closing ceremony of the summer activities. He noted that this participation culminates significant efforts made during the summer. He added that he has been working in volunteer and organizational fields for over two years, and that his experience working at the Qatar Youth Hostels has provided him with valuable leadership skills and experience. He explained that the diverse activities he participated in enabled him to acquire new knowledge and apply it practically, and he affirmed his eagerness to participate in future Youth Hostel camps. For his part, Hamad Al-Hajri, a graduate of the 2024 and 2025 Tourist Guiding Programs and a graduate of the summer applied programs, expressed his pride in being selected this year as a supervisor for the programs after having volunteered in previous years. He said that after completing the summer activities programs, which included several training courses and theatrical performances, he gained diverse experiences that he shared with the participating youth. He added, “We represent our country and pass on our experiences to young people aged 15 to 25. At the same time, we benefit from their experiences so that we can see them in the future as supervisors in these programs, helping them achieve their true goals of introducing our heritage to the country’s guests.” Al-Hajri spoke about his experience, saying, “Initially, I volunteered in the programs, and then I nominated myself to be a tour guide. Thank God, I gained valuable experience in tour guiding, and we have become representatives of Qatar for visitors. It’s wonderful when visitors see a guide in traditional Qatari dress; it gives a positive impression that Qatar deserves the best.” For his part, Faisal Mohammed Al-Ansari, the educational and organizational supervisor at Qatar Youth Hostels, confirmed that his participation in the summer activities this year was a unique experience that allowed him to positively influence young people and develop their skills. He stated, “This summer, I served as an organizational and educational supervisor at Qatar Youth Hostels, where we organized most of the events, including mentoring programs specifically designed for young men and women of younger age groups. This edition was the first of its kind. We also participated in a youth camp, where we interacted directly with the participants, allowing us to impart life lessons and leave a positive impact on their personalities.” At the conclusion of the ceremony, Ms. Fatima Al-Sulaiti, Head of Programs and Events at Qatar Youth Hostels, stated, “2025 marks a significant achievement with the graduation of the first two tour guides with hearing impairments. We also celebrated the graduation of the first students from the Applied Training Program in Study Management and Planning.” In a separate, first-of-its-kind program, a young man and woman received specialized training in tour guiding skills, which included… The young participants in the various activities at Qatar Youth Hostels expressed their readiness to work as certified tour guides in statements to Al-Qabas newspaper.