McDonald’s Qatar signs Collaboration Agreement with Education Above All

The popular quick service restaurant will build awareness, fundraise, and hold volunteer events at local schools, which provides education access in Qatar to marginalised children

29 October, Doha Qatar 2022: In line with its commitment to supporting the community every day, especially when and in ways they need it most, McDonald’s Qatar signed a partnership with Education Above All (EAA) to support the foundation’s programs for two years through awareness-building, fundraising, and volunteering.

To celebrate the partnership launch, McDonald’s Qatar hosted a Happy Day at the First and Second Assalam Schools attended by Development License Partner and Licensee for McDonald’s Qatar, Mr. Kamal Saleh Al Mana, General Manager of McDonald’s Qatar, Mr. Mithqual Abu Nasser, and EAA Programme Director Talal Al-Hothal. During the Day, executives toured the school while children enjoyed activities and received Happy Meal Boxes.

Commenting on the partnership, Development License Partner and Licensee for McDonald’s Qatar, Mr. Kamal Saleh Al Mana, said, “As we have in the past, McDonald’s Qatar – a 100% locally owned and operated company – continues to prioritize its responsibility towards strengthening the foundation of the community in which we operate and finding ways to serve bright futures, in addition to tasty food. Through our partnership with Education Above All Foundation, we underscore our commitment to the idea, enshrined in Qatar National Vision (QNV) 2030, that for true development to occur, a prosperous society should have access to quality education, especially for its deserving children.”

For his part, Talal Al-Hothal, the EAA director overseeing the Together Project that is running the partnership on behalf of the foundation, said: “This agreement outlines what promises to be a fruitful partnership. We are looking forward to cooperating with McDonald’s Qatar to whom we extend our thanks for supporting our mission to broaden educational access, particularly for children from marginalised backgrounds.  Education is the key to unlocking the Sustainable Development Goals.  By supporting education we not only empower our youth, but build a more prosperous future for Qatar.”

Under the partnership, donations will be collected directly at the restaurant counters, by asking McDonald’s Qatar customers if they would like to add as little as QAR 1 to their total bill before enjoying the meal purchased. In addition, McDonald’s Qatar is committed to participating in key activations and local events, which are organized by EAA. The two partners will also schedule periodic volunteering programs, whereby McDonald’s Qatar employees will participate in ‘Happy Days’ hosted in Assalam Schools, with food and fun activities.

EAA, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and in collaboration with national charitable organizations, initiated mechanisms in 2019 to support children in Qatar with access to education through the establishment of specialized, tuition-free schools entitled “Assalam.”

It is worth noting that this partnership comes as the first initiative under the new, bigger umbrella of Corporate Social Responsibility for McDonald’s Qatar: ‘Rahlatuna.’ The platform ’Rahlatuna’ – or ‘Our Journeys’ – serves as McDonald’s Qatar’s bold commitment to QNV 2030’s “Human Development” pillar; additionally, it fulfils the company’s vision of giving back to the community as well as feeding as fostering communities. It engages the community’s youth, each of whom is on their unique journey-to-greatness, productively and positively through building their skills, broadening their vision, and rewarding their successes.

–END–

About McDonald’s Qatar

McDonald’s Qatar is owned, managed and operated by Al Mana Restaurants & Food Company W.L.L. and is one of the leading quick service restaurant brands in Qatar. Since opening in 1995, McDonald’s Qatar today employs more than 1,700 employees and operates a network of 668 restaurants across the country. We have been proud to serve our customers with safe, high-quality products and superior service that is synonymous with the Golden Arches all over the world.

About the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation

The Education Above All (EAA) Foundation is a global foundation established in 2012 by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser. EAA aims to transform lives through education. We believe that education is the single most effective means of reducing poverty, creating peaceful and just societies, unlocking the full potential of every child and youth, and creating the right conditions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Through our multi-sectoral approach, unique financing models, focus on innovation as a tool for social good, and partnerships, we aim to bringing hope and real opportunities to the lives of impoverished and marginalised boys and girls.

EAA is comprised of: Educate A Child (EAC), Al Fakhoora, Reach Out To Asia (ROTA), Protect Education in Insecurity and Conflict (PEIC), Innovation Development (ID), Al Fakhoora programme and the Together Project.