Discovering Qatar with a Purpose Tuesday, 19 March 2019

Doha Environmental Actions Project (DEAP) is a volunteering organization leading the beach cleanup movement and the fight against plastic pollution in Qatar.

Plastic pollution is a major global issue, everyone is trying to figure out how to deal with it, and Qatar is not the exception. We wanted to start having a conversation with different sectors of our society as nobody seemed to be talking much about plastic pollution, let alone doing something about it.

During the past 2 years DEAP has conducted 92 organized beach and sand dune cleanups. To date we have taken over 4,000 volunteers on cleanups, and on a journey to discover Qatar with a purpose. With nothing but our bare hands we have removed over 50,000 kilos of trash from the beaches, desert, and dunes in Qatar. In addition to that we have conducted over 20 school presentations in an effort to inspire our youth to take action.

We are a very diverse team of volunteers that very much represents the demographics of Qatar. Our members are from all over the world. Despite all the differences we could find among us, one thing unites us: Our love for nature and for Qatar, and the firm belief, that we can actually make a difference.

How successful have we been? We think that convincing 4,000 people to go on beach cleanups (a fancy way to say go pick up someone else’s trash) is quite an accomplishment, especially considering the fact that we are doing this on a country that is not our own, but that they love it as if it was.

DEAP’s mission is to restore the natural beauty of the beaches and sand dunes in Qatar, to promote Qatar’s natural attractions, to educate our youth and the public on the impact of plastic pollution in nature, and to positively influence  behavioral change on behalf of the environment.

Our vision is to allow Qatar’s natural landscapes to remain a beautiful source of pride and a litter free space for generations to come.

We have 3 key objectives that serve for us as a compass as we seek to fulfill our mission and vision. 1)Advocate for the creation of Qatar National Beach Cleanup Day (QNBCD), a national holiday where  hundreds of organized beach cleanups take place across the country. An opportunity for all of us to celebrate key elements of Qatari culture: The beach, the ocean, and the sand dunes, while reducing plastic pollution. 2) Double efforts on the number and reach of our beach cleanups, expanding partnerships with schools. 3) We are promoting the substitution of plastic bags with more environmental friendly options.

We are convinced that if we want to change the trends we see in our environment, we must act now. Despite the magnitude of the challenge that we are facing, we are firm believers that those trends can be reversed. We just need to take action, individually and collectively.

Both government and civil society have a roll to play on this fight. If we fail to act, I can guarantee you that what scientist are predicting “more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050” will be a reality. The amount of trash that we find in the beach and ocean TODAY is unbelievable.

If what we do resonates with you, and if you want to be the change you want to see in the world, join us in our quest to discover Qatar with a purpose.

If not us, who? if not now, when? Join us!