Years of Culture
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2025/11/12
From the bustling city centre of Santiago to the timeless mystery of Rapa Nui (Easter Island), the Years of Culture Influencer Ambassadors discovered how deeply connected Latin American traditions are to heritage, community, and pride.
For Qatari content creators Anas Abouqamer, Khalifa Al-Haroon, Essa Al-Jamali, Dalal Al-Jafari, Abdulaziz Al-Ajail, Abdulrahman Al-Ashqar, and Noora Abuhelaiqa, Chile offered not just breathtaking landscapes, but profound encounters that resonated with their own cultural roots.
As Anas shared, “Honestly, the whole journey itself felt like the highlight. Travelling all the way to this side of the world and discovering both the differences and surprising similarities was incredible. Moments like visiting Rapa Nui, exploring El Calafate and the visit to Deportivo Palestino Club were truly once-in-a-lifetime experiences.”
Upon arriving in Santiago, the content creators found themselves in the midst of Fiestas Patrias, Chile’s Independence Day celebrations on 18th September. Streets came alive with parades, dancing, music, and traditional foods.
The group explored the city’s cultural landmarks, bustling markets, and historic squares, discovering the warmth of Santiago’s people. Noora described her first impressions of Chile’s capital: “The first thing that caught my attention was Santiago’s landscape, the endless horizons and the way the city is framed by the mountains. And at night, the stars were unbelievably bright. I actually teared up seeing the Milky Way so clearly. It was magical.”
A moment of cultural exchange that particularly resonated with Abdulrahman was meeting local people who were curious about Qatar and its traditions. “We exchanged stories about our cultures — from food to music — and realised how much beauty there is in sharing and understanding each other,” he explained.
Another profoundly meaningful stop on the itinerary was a visit to Deportivo Palestino, a football club founded by Palestinian immigrants in 1920.
When asked about a moment that stood out to him during the trip, Anas said it was definitely the tour of the stadium: “Meeting people who share my roots, being half Qatari, half Palestinian, made it an emotional and unforgettable experience.”
Today, around 500,000 Palestinians live in Chile, representing the largest Palestinian community outside the Arab world, and the club remains a powerful symbol of identity and resilience. As part of the Qatar, Argentina and Chile 2025 Year of Culture, the football team will also travel to Doha later this year.
From Santiago, the ambassadors’ itinerary took them further west. The group departed the mainland and journeyed across 3,500 kilometres of Pacific Ocean to reach the remote island of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island. The Influencer Ambassadors spent time exploring the volcanic landscapes of sites such as Ahu Tongariki and Rano Raraku.
For Dalal, those days on the island were the absolute highlight of her time in Chile. “Rapa Nui felt almost otherworldly,” she described. “The Moai statues carry such mystery and spirit. Walking across the island felt like being in an open-air museum and the island’s energy stays with you long after you leave.”
Abdulrahman explained that the experience really surprised him:“I didn’t expect to feel such deep energy from the place and its history. Seeing the Moai statues in person, with that magical sky full of stars, was something truly spiritual.”
Through every conversation, performance, and shared table, the ambassadors found echoes of home. Noora reflected, “The people were so warm and welcoming that it instantly felt familiar. Their sense of pride, family, and hospitality reminded me a lot of home in Qatar. It made me realise how connected we are, even from different sides of the world.”
Dalal noted that shared meals revealed the social fabric of Chile and Argentina: “In both Chile and Argentina, meals are shared, where people come together to eat, talk, and take their time. This reminded me so much of our gatherings back home in Qatar.”
Anas also reflected on the trip’s overarching theme of human connection: “At the core, we’re all human. What stood out in Argentina and Chile is how warm, social, and generous people are, with strong family bonds and a genuine spirit of hospitality. That felt very close to Qatari culture.”
“Argentina and Chile’s strong connection to their roots reminded me of how important it is to hold on to our traditions in Qatar,” added Abdulrahman. “Whether it’s the gauchos in Argentina or the Mapuche in Chile, their pride in their heritage made me even prouder of mine.”
As the group’s journey came full circle and they began their homeward travels, Khalifa summed up what he hoped that his followers would take from the experience: “I want people to explore more. Stop going to the same holiday destinations and discover something new. Let’s appreciate more of what the world has and let’s focus on building bridges!”
If you missed the first part of the group’s South American trip, read about the Influencer Ambassadors’ journey across Argentina.
