Name: Natasa Seferovic.
Where are you from? Pogorica, Montenegro.
How long have you been in Qatar? Since June 2013, which is quite a long period considering I wanted to leave Qatar the first week I arrive, but things change and it is currently very difficult for me to leave here.
Why did you move to Qatar? Research and academic advancement in Political Sciences.
What are you passionate about? Acknowledgement, research, travelling, basketball and silk painting. Quite diverse, just like Qatar itself.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? There is always a home away from home. If you want, if you are brave, no matter where you are, no matter how far you are from your country of origin, you can settle down and create the life you desire.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I have travelled a lot, but the diversity and contrast of cultures and ethnicities I have come across in Qatar are quite rare to find. It should be an advantage, not a disadvantage. We have to communicate more. We have to break down the walls between the different groups and feel that Qatar is home to us all and is not just a transit stop before moving on. To learn and to take the best from everyone. To listen more to others and to remove the stereotypes that exist.
Name: Han Bing.
Where are you from? Yinchuan, China.
How long have you been in Qatar? Since October 2004.
Why did you move to Qatar? Studied Arabic, so wanted to work in an Arabic country.
What are you passionate about? My family.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? Respect others for their different cultures and habits.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? It sounded interesting as we are a multi-cultural family.
Name: Oliver Moritz.
Where are you from? Frankfurt, Germany.
How long have you been in Qatar? Since June 2004.
Why did you move to Qatar? To work abroad. Opened a branch of a German company. Initially planned to come for 6 months.
What are you passionate about? Family life, learning about different cultures and helping others.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? That you are only a guest in most places of the world and you should appreciate what you have.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I have been here so long, so I try to give back to the country, whenever I can. I believe this project will support my aim.
Name: Pascal Moritz.
Where are you from? Born in Qatar.
How long have you been in Qatar? Since February 2012.
Why did you move to Qatar? I WAS BORN HERE!
What are you passionate about? Football.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? Give me more time to think.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? My parents dragged me along.
Name: Françoise Freifer.
Where are you from? Beirut, Lebanon.
How long have you been in Qatar? Since July 2009.
Why did you move to Qatar? To work and try something new.
What are you passionate about? I am passionate about many things: photography is one of them.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? You learn that you are stronger than you have ever imagined.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I liked the idea of it. If we can look at people for who they really are and be more kind to them, we would live in a more peaceful world.
Name: Valerie Valero.
Where are you from? Cebu City, Philippines.
How long have you been in Qatar? Since December 2013.
Why did you move to Qatar? To be with my Husband and hopefully start a family.
What are you passionate about? Family and Travel.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? I have learned to be very grateful for everything that I have right now. My husband and I are lucky to be granted a family status by his company. Accommodation, transportation, health benefits and necessary bills are being taken cared by them. Now we can save and send more help back home.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? Since I'm pretty new here, I wanted to learn more of Qatar. One way of doing so is to see the type of people it has.
Name: Giovedi Baes.
Where are you from? Cebu City, Philippines.
How long have you been in Qatar? October 2006 - May 2011, October 2013 - present.
Why did you move to Qatar? For a better job opportunity.
What are you passionate about? Family, music and work.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? In my profession, I have learned to be flexible in dealing with people of different nationalities and levels of the profession; adjusting to their cultures, understanding their accents and most especially enjoying their kinds of food.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I think this opens up to a network of opportunities by allowing us to build new relationships within the community. It also served as a breather from my work.
Name: Evgenia Berestneva.
Where are you from? Saint-Petersburg, Russia.
How long have you been in Qatar? I came to Qatar in June 2011 and though I travel for a couple of months almost every summer, it has been three years.
Why did you move to Qatar? I was part of a student organisation for several years in Russia and Italy, which was organising internship programmes for young people (AIESEC). At a certain period, I was looking for an internship in graphic design and communication in an NGO or social enterprise and I found one in The Youth Company. To be honest, I was scared to come to the Middle East, but I'm happy I did so because it has changed a lot of my misconceptions.
What are you passionate about? I am passionate about art and different social issues, or to be more precise, how we can address social issues like poverty, hunger, the environment, education, peace, tolerance, and sustainability through art, design and media.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? It’s very important to have someone who believes in you more than you believe in yourself. It takes some courage to take on challenges and risks, and when you are too scared to fail (so scared that you don’t even want to try) it’s only those people who believe in you who have the power to push you forward. So, I’ve realised how important it is to surround myself with those kinds of people - the right people.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? It connects with my passion: art which is used to promote tolerance and celebrate diversity. I really hope it can reflect how different and how similar we are at the same time, regardless of our age, experience and country of origin.
Name: Audrey Choge.
Where are you from? I hail from Nairobi, Kenya - one of the best destinations in Africa.
How long have you been in Qatar? Since 20th May 2013.
Why did you move to Qatar? Moving here was one of the biggest decisions I ever made. I was going to be away from my family - all alone in the desert! As soon as I got on the plane I knew there was no turning back. It's either I go back home a winner or I go back home a winner (that was the only option). So I moved here in search of a better job/opportunity, looking for growth and to make a lot of MULLA - money in Kenyan slang.
What are you passionate about? I like to think that I am a hospitality enthusiast with a flair for the arts. Anything from poetry, storytelling, plays, films, and sports. You name it and you will find me there. I am passionate about spreading love just like my icon Audrey Hepburn. I believe I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it. I am all about family and true friendships.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? Things are not always as they seem. I am a living testament to that. But we learn and we move on with an even better understanding of what life is, even the approach you take towards it becomes different. So thank you Qatar for teaching and enhancing my ability to adjust my attitude towards life!
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I wanted to be a part of it because I believe that it has a way of communicating with different individuals on different levels. Having all the cultures share their thoughts and learning from one another is what makes the world go round. I believe that it can spread unity and love and be a great example of different people working in the same place and towards one goal. At the end of the day, it will tell a beautiful story!
Name: Eylin Perez.
Where are you from? I’m originally from Lima, Peru.
How long have you been in Qatar? I’ve been in Qatar since February 2016, so it’s been already 2 years.
Why did you move to Qatar? I had a little crush on Qatar since the first time I had a layover in Doha. I found that the country was really safe, organized and interesting. Once I moved, I fell in love even more with its culture and traditions, which are really unique.
What are you passionate about? My passion is doing yoga. I’m a yoga instructor and I can say that my life changed since I started my practice. The best part of working on your passion is that you’ll enjoy every single day, and that’s how life becomes happier.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? Moving to Qatar helped me to build my character and be strong in my convictions. It taught me to believe in myself and be careful with who I trust. It taught me to trust in my journey, be selective with who I keep in my life, and most important thing: aim for only the best in any area of my life.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I was really excited to be part of the project because it’s a beautiful reminder of how diverse we are as humans. Each person is a completely different world, with their own traditions, beliefs, and stories. That’s why it's so enriching to learn, blend and share our cultural baggage with others, because it broadens the horizons of our mind, as well as makes us realise how big the planet where we live is.
Name: Isham Marikar.
Where are you from? Puttalam, Sri Lanka.
How long have you been in Qatar? March 2014.
Why did you move to Qatar? I moved here to get a better job because back in Sri Lanka people are facing lots of challenges to save money. So I came here to save some money. I miss my home and my home town. I’m a youth activist back in Sri Lanka and I am always involving myself in politics to get justice, but it caused a lot of trouble for my family so they just sent me here because they think Qatar will be safe for me.
I came on a visit visa to search for a job with my BSc in computing. I met many people and came to know that I know nothing, but my local community back home were saying I know a lot about international matters. After spending some months here in Qatar, I realised this would be the best place for me to improve myself.
What are you passionate about? Volunteering. This is the only thing I would love to do until the end of my life. Helping strangers without any expectations gives me a lot of satisfaction. I meet different types of human beings and I always share my experience with them. I also learn a lot of real-time knowledge and skills from them to make my life better. I have only been in Qatar for three months, but I have volunteered for five different events, including a Guinness world record event which was organised by Qatar charity with the support of mission20. We collected 29.5 metric tonnes of clothing in 24 hours and sent them to the needy in Yemen, the Central African Republic and the Philippines.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? I have come to appreciate how lucky we are to have a good job and better life. I try to meet at least one labour worker every day. I talk with them over some cool drinks. Many of them work so hard under the sun to build a house and send their kids to school back in their country! I always pray for them in my prayers and also I thank the almighty for the life he gave me. No one can live without support.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? There are millions of people living here in Qatar and the reason why they are here is money! They don’t have much time to get to know each other. This project is giving them a way to compare themselves with others. In reality, we always compare ourselves with others and I hope this project will help us compare some good things.
Name: Ayat Omer Essabi.
Where are you from? Tangasi, Sudan.
How long have you been in Qatar? Since June 2005, but I have been going back and forth between Qatar and Sudan (2008-2013) for university.
Why did you move to Qatar? I moved here with my family in 2004 because my dad got a job as an architect for the Doha 2006 Asian games and it's honestly the best thing that ever happened to me. I love this place!
What are you passionate about? I'm a pharmacist now and I'm very passionate about my profession, but I'm also a singer so I'm also very passionate about music, which is great because these are two different fields that I'm trying to develop myself in, so they keep me busy and inspired most of the time.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? You can always make new friends and you can always make the place you're in "home". Beautiful people are everywhere, you just have to look around and allow them to show themselves. So basically, it made me believe in humanity even more.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? Because it's a brilliant idea. There's so much more to us as humans than meets the eye, so this project gives a voice to each face and just makes us realise how colourful, diverse and beautiful the people who live in Qatar are, so I was more than happy to participate.
Name: Felice Marano.
Where are you from? Napoli, Italy.
How long have you been in Qatar? I moved to Qatar in February 2014.
Why did you move to Qatar? Being involved in different international exchange programmes provided by the European Union, I was fortunate enough to explore different aspects of European culture. That gave me the opportunity to develop a certain kind of European citizenship, being able to communicate in several languages, absorbing different habits and traditions, and always being surrounded by an international environment. At a point in my life, I took part in a youth-oriented project in amazing South Africa where I had the opportunity to discover a unique, vibrant culture where nature has the incredible power to leave you speechless and people are so incredibly diverse. The only feeling I had was to deepen my sense of belonging to the whole world so as to develop more global citizenship. Thus, I thought to move out from Europe at a time when few opportunities are provided to young people and decided to experience a different part of the world for a longer time. This is how I started working as Programmes and Events Manager of the Youth Hub Qatar - a set of smart spaces and concepts, in Doha, for young people to discover their passion, develop their talents and work together in a creative environment.
What are you passionate about? I am all about languages and cultures, diversity and inspiring people. I love travelling, moving from one place to another and to challenge myself through different experiences. Dance, music and art in all their forms are also playing a fundamental role in my life, representing a great opportunity to nurture my soul and stimulate my creativity. I practice Yoga on a daily basis and also love to meditate. In a time where people are moving faster and technology is playing a very important role in our daily lives, I find spirituality a powerful tool to get in contact with my inner spirit, escape from the surrounding chaos and feel more connected with nature and the mix of energies leading our unique paths.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? To be surrounded by people trusting your abilities and every single thing you do is very important; I consider it to be such a great gift. But what I have experienced and learned in Doha is that if one does not start believing in oneself and one’s potential, it can be very hard to achieve great results. Every day is a new lesson for me, learning that one of the main obstacles I have to overcome is just me.
What I have also learned here is that it is very important to discover our gifts, to develop our unique talents so as to create a great opportunity for us to align our jobs with our passions. It is very important to face challenges and obstacles arising from everyday life or from the working environment. Life is beautiful the way it is and every one is unique and must be respected and valued for the wonderful contribution they add to our daily lives.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I want to be a part of the project because I think the face can say a lot about a person. Whether you are angry, happy, peaceful or not, the expression and the eyes still reflect who you really are and what you are feeling on the inside.
I want to also share a thought with all the young people out there, on how important it is to be unique, to appreciate our diversities, to open up our minds and to understand that despite the difficulties in life, the innumerable challenges - especially for certain isolated and discriminated minorities - life is always ready to give us a reason to smile, to appreciate such a unique gift. After all, how could we appreciate the joys and wonders of life without first passing through moments of deep reflection and agony? Life is such a wonderful gift and our only responsibility is to make it the most beautiful of all our experiences.
Name: Elizabeth Holloway.
Where are you from? Yorkshire Dales, England, United Kingdom.
How long have you been in Qatar? Since August 2009.
Why did you move to Qatar? Work, for a new challenge, to fulfil an ambition to work and see a different perspective on life.
What are you passionate about? My family, fairness, equality and education!
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? To listen, watch, reflect and not take anything for granted!
Why do you want to be a part of this project? Because I wanted to be a part of a project that reflected the diversity of this country we have chosen to be our host.
Name: Fahad Khalid Al-Thani.
Where are you from? Doha, Qatar.
What are you passionate about? Boxing.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt? I learnt many lessons in my life but if I had to choose one, it would be to try to never disobey my mother.
As a Qatari citizen, do you feel the diverse ethnic mix migrating to Qatar adds to Qatar's identity? Yes, I believe having a broader ethnic mixture in Qatar adds greatly to the current development of the country where such a mixture will bring new ideas, which will reflect on the outside view of the country.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I wanted to be in this project so I can show that in Qatar diversity is embraced and accepted.
Name: Issa Al-Athnien Klshat Almahri.
Where are you from? Al Getha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
How long have you been in Qatar? Since March 2014.
Why did you move to Qatar? I have always been interested in living in Doha and as soon as I came here, it felt like home.
What are you passionate about? Cars, particularly Land Cruisers.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? A person needs to work hard in order to enjoy the fruits of his labour. A human without work is like a tree without fruits.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I wanted to help show the diversity of the country.
Name: Andrzej Boryslawski.
Where are you from? Tomaszow Mazowiecki, Poland.
How long have you been in Qatar? October 2012.
Why did you move to Qatar? An opportunity came up to work on a challenging project in a growing telecom group. It was also an excellent opportunity for my wife and me to taste the Middle Eastern culture in the modern, peaceful and growing Doha.
What are you passionate about? Rock music and travelling, especially with my wife.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? "Life is like riding a bicycle - in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving. "
Why do you want to be a part of this project? This project shows Doha in many faces through the eye gaze. It is a great opportunity to stop for a moment and look at them on a more personal level.
Name: Aneta Stefanowicz.
Where are you from? Gdansk, Poland.
How long have you been in Qatar? Since May 2013.
Why did you move to Qatar? I joined my husband who got an interesting job offer in Doha and after some heated family discussions, we came to the decision that we were ready for a significant change in our lives and for an exciting adventure here in the Middle East. After I arrived in Doha, I was also successful in finding a job, so both of us are able to develop in work environments so different to what we were used to in Europe.
What are you passionate about? 19th-century opera, dancing salsa and travelling with my husband.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? Don't run through life. Take your time.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? Maya Angelou once said, "In diversity there is beauty and there is strength. " Qatar is for me a unique country with over 80% of its residents being of different nationalities (other than Qatari). You hardly ever see such diversity in other countries. This project is a great opportunity to manifest this diversity and leave a trace of my presence here.
Name: Marium Saba.
Where are you from? Oldham, England, United Kingdom.
How long have you been in Qatar? Since January 2013.
Why did you move to Qatar? I wanted to move to a country where I could explore another culture, to experience a different way of living. Qatar is developing but still has strong cultural roots - the best of both worlds. It's interesting to see Qatar building itself to shine.
What are you passionate about? Education. I feel we live in a world which is full of hate and so much ignorance. I am not an exception to this as I too am ignorant of many things. I feel education has the power to open minds. It enables one to think beyond what one is accustomed to. As a new teacher, I have placed great importance on always teaching in a fun and exciting way to initiate learning through curiosity. Where there is curiosity there will always be a thirst for education - to know and understand more.
What would you say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? That deep, deep, deep happiness does not come with materialistic goods. It comes with the feeling of being content; the knowledge of knowing what really matters. Spending time with myself, by the peaceful and beautiful corniche has allowed me to see the beauty of this life we have been blessed with. To understand we have to live each and every day we have been blessed with by doing what makes us happy. At the end of the day, that is all that really matters.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I love cultural diversity. I feel diversity should be embraced; it shows the beauty of Allah's creation. We are so different yet we are all the same. Diversity is a strong tool. The differences we can learn from, and in the similarities, we can find comfort and connect.
Name: Abdulla P Ahammad.
Where are you from? Kerala, India.
How long have you been in Qatar? Since September 2009.
Why did you move to Qatar? Many construction projects have started here and as an engineer, I can be part of this bright future. My dad has worked here for more than three decades and from his impressions, it seems to be a place where I can grow along with the growth of the country.
What are you passionate about? One of my greatest passions is learning a new language. I also love to cook and eat a variety of different food.
What would say is the biggest life lesson you have learnt since moving to Qatar? If you help someone, don't expect anything in return from them; but you will get help from another source.
Why do you want to be a part of this project? I liked your idea and I am interested to get to know people and being exposed to ideas from all over the world.