Years of Culture
false
2025/12/09
Part of the Qatar, Argentina and Chile 2025 Year of Culture, this 15-day programme provided participants with practical opportunities to support local communities, explore heritage, and engage in cultural exchange.
The Qatar Museums International Volunteer Initiative operates within the broader Years of Culture framework, which seeks to strengthen cultural diplomacy and sustainable collaboration between Qatar and partner countries.
During previous journeys to Indonesia in 2023 and Morocco in 2024, volunteers contributed to a series of initiatives prioritising sustainability, inclusivity, and mutual learning. Each trip builds on the last, creating a network of cultural ambassadors who carry knowledge and experience back to Qatar while fostering long-term connections with host communities.
The programme demonstrates how cultural engagement, community participation, and environmental awareness can intersect to create meaningful collaborations that have enduring local and international impact.
From 20th to 26th September, the group of Qatari volunteers spent time visiting Buenos Aires. The volunteers collaborated with prestigious local institutions, including the Buenos Aires Mayor’s Office, the Ministries of Culture and Economy, Teatro Colón, La Cisterna, the Andar Foundation, and the Astor Piazzolla Conservatory. The diverse programme encompassed archaeology, music, cuisine and more.
At the La Cisterna archaeological site, volunteers descended beneath the city streets to explore layers of Buenos Aires’ past. Excavations revealed centuries-old artefacts, and participants learned about restoration and conservation techniques under the guidance of local specialists.
These activities offered an intimate connection to the city’s hidden heritage and a deeper understanding of the work involved in historical preservation.
The group spent their second full day at the Andar Foundation, engaging with youth and adults with disabilities through photography sessions, art workshops, and cultural discussions.
Over the following two days, participants were welcomed at the Astor Piazzolla Conservatory, where they contributed to music workshops that merged Qatari Ardha with Argentinian musical traditions.
The week concluded with Gastro-Diplomacy Day. Held in partnership with the Chamber of Hotels, Restaurants, and Cafes, volunteers and culinary students prepared Qatari and Argentinian dishes, sharing techniques, recipes, and stories.
The group sampled traditional Qatari dish machboos alongside Argentinian empanadas, offering a powerful reminder of food’s role in building cultural connection.
On 27th September, the itinerary took the group to Matanzas, a coastal town in Chile’s O’Higgins region, where nature, heritage, and community formed the backdrop for six days of volunteer work.
Team members partnered with TRAMA Cultural Management Office, Reimagina Foundation, local authorities, and Estudio Creativo Bato to support community-based initiatives centred on environmental conservation, heritage preservation, and artistic collaboration.
Volunteers joined local residents in beach clean-ups along La Boca, learning about native flora and fauna while collecting waste from the Rapel River estuary. Kayaking and biodiversity workshops offered a first-hand understanding of the delicate balance between human activity and coastal ecosystems.
Meanwhile, the “Community Plant Renewal” project saw native species such as maqui, peumo, and alstroemeria planted to restore the local landscape.
Participants also contributed to a mural that integrated Qatari Sadu weaving patterns with local Chilean motifs, painted alongside local youth and artisans.
The volunteers further engaged with Matanzas’ unique culture through pottery, photography, and restoration workshops. The Seaweed Gatherers’ Route highlighted local ancestral knowledge and traditional practices passed down by women in the community.
The programme concluded with a communal feast blending Qatari and Chilean dishes, celebrating a successful week of collaboration.
For volunteers and locals alike, the shared meals, mural painting, and collective environmental activities became a testament to the power of culture as a bridge between communities.
Through these hands-on projects in Argentina and Chile, the 2025 Qatar Museums Volunteer Trip illustrated the practical outcomes of the Years of Culture programme: connecting communities, preserving heritage, and fostering intercultural dialogue.
The volunteers’ experiences highlight the many ways culture can bring people and their traditions together across continents.
Discover upcoming events, exhibitions, and collaborations taking place throughout the Qatar, Argentina and Chile 2025 Year of Culture.
