The Social Development Centre, Nama, a branch of Qatar Foundation for Social Work, has announced the launch of the third edition of its Social Entrepreneurship Award, aimed at encouraging youth innovation and social responsibility. The competition, unveiled at a press conference held at Nama’s headquarters, targets young entrepreneurs, social innovators, and secondary school students across Qatar.
The award features two main categories: Best Social Entrepreneurship Idea and Best Established Social Enterprise Project. Additionally, a separate competition focuses specifically on secondary school students to foster creativity and community engagement. Prizes include QR100,000 for the best idea, QR200,000 for the best established project, and a total of QR60,000 allocated among student participants. Those interested can apply via Nama’s official website and track updates on social media.
Najif Zamil al-Shahrani, communications manager at Nama, emphasized the award’s focus on identifying projects that address clear societal challenges with impactful, feasible, and sustainable solutions. Ghanem Salah al-Ali, executive director of Nama, highlighted the introduction of an intensive training programme for shortlisted applicants this year. This initiative aims to support participants in refining their concepts through a structured process, from understanding community problems to designing implementable strategies with measurable impact. According to al-Ali, this approach is designed to enhance learning and development, alongside recognizing outstanding projects.
The award’s secondary school competition, launched in 2025, has received strong support from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE). Mohammed al-Kadi, representing the ministry, noted that the initiative aligns with broader educational goals to nurture innovative thinking and social responsibility among students beyond the traditional classroom setting. He pointed to the first edition’s success, which involved 31 boys’ and girls’ secondary schools and more than 120 students who benefited from training workshops. Six schools advanced to the final round, with projects spanning topics such as environmental sustainability, inclusive education, health, technology, and student safety.
Al-Kadi emphasized that the competition’s significance lies not only in the winning projects but in cultivating students’ capacity to analyze societal problems and develop practical solutions collaboratively. The ministry expressed confidence that this third round would facilitate greater participation, teamwork, and innovation among youth, helping them realize their potential and address real community challenges.
Since its inception in 2024, the Social Entrepreneurship Award has recognized initiatives including the Autism Parents Platform as the Best Existing Project and the Central Canteen Project as the Best Project Idea. Nama and its partners have also identified and studied social challenges closely to inform the competition’s focus areas, aiming to raise awareness and encourage solutions that create lasting societal value.