Youth centres, clubs expand programmes to engage students during school year

Youth centres, clubs and committees spanning several sports clubs in Qatar are broadening their offerings for the 2026-2027 academic year. The aim is to engage students through a variety of activities including sports, cultural events, technology, creative arts, and volunteer work. Officials indicate these programs are scheduled to fit within students' academic timetables, with evening and weekend sessions designed to complement school hours and the holy month of Ramadan.

During periods of exams and revision, programming is adjusted to ensure academic performance isn't compromised.

Activities range from sports tournaments and educational camps to workshops on leadership, teamwork, artificial intelligence, digital skills and content creation. These initiatives aim to entertain while equipping students with practical knowledge and awareness. Saleh Mohamed al-Obaidli, who heads the Madar Youth Team, highlights the importance of timing programmes appropriately, balancing school hours, prayers, study schedules and exam periods.

Short activities are more suited to weekdays, while weekends are ideal for tournaments, trips and longer events.

Ali Mohamed, director of activities at Al Arabi Club's Youth Committee, explains that coordination with schools enables the delivery of awareness programs and lectures during school hours, with camps typically held on weekends. These camps, competitions and interactive challenges have garnered significant interest, while larger awareness initiatives run for three months to reinforce key messages and evaluate their impact.

Promotion of these activities is facilitated via social media and through the Shabab Lad3m application. Success is measured not just by the number of participants, but also by the skills and benefits gained by the youth, with feedback and evaluations guiding future program improvements.

For girls, centers are focusing on personal development, creativity, innovation, technology, design and digital content production. Sheikha Hussein Babsail, head of the Doha Girls Centre, emphasizes flexible and interactive sessions offered during evenings and weekends to fit students' commitments. She notes that practical workshops are particularly popular.

Alreyada Girls Centre Director Najla al-Hajri stresses the importance of engaging directly with students and feedback from an advisory committee to tailor activities to their needs. The centre also introduces workshops covering financial planning and other relevant topics, working closely with schools to deliver morning sessions and evening activities that conclude by 8pm.

Youth centers across Qatar are responding to the need for structured yet flexible programs that complement the academic demands of students while offering enriching experiences in various fields.