Doha, Qatar: Just weeks after receiving the Akhlaquna Individual Contributions Award in April, ‘Feed a Friend’ is already seeing the recognition translate into new opportunities to expand the reach of the community initiative founded during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The award, which honours individuals and projects work embodies ethical values such as generosity, compassion and service to others, has provided what the founder of ‘Feed a Friend’ Jaffrin Choudhury describes as a powerful vote of confidence for potential partners and supporters.
“In many ways, it already has,” she told The Peninsula when asked how the award would help amplify her work. “Our slogan is ‘Together for Good,’ and we try to embody that in everything we do. This recognition opens doors for new partnerships and collaborations, allowing us to work alongside others who share the same vision.”
For Choudhury, collaboration has always been at the heart of Feed a Friend’s success. What began as a small effort to provide hot meals to struggling families during the pandemic has grown into a wide-ranging community support network offering food assistance, community fridges, Welcome Baby Boxes, clothing redistribution and educational programmes.
“Through collaboration, we can achieve far greater impact than any one organisation could achieve alone,” she said.
Presented by Chairperson of Qatar Foundation H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the award also holds deep personal significance for Choudhury.
“She has been a role model to so many of us, inspiring generations through her vision, leadership and unwavering commitment to education, social development and community empowerment,” she said. “To receive recognition connected to that legacy is something I will always treasure.”
The recognition carries particular weight because of the rigorous selection process behind the award. Choudhury said that the assessment conducted by the Akhlaquna team, under the leadership of Vice President for Strategic Educational Initiatives in Pre-University Education at Qatar Foundation Sheikha Noof Al Thani, reassures prospective partners that the initiative’s work has been independently evaluated and recognised at the highest level.
While the award has created new momentum for Feed a Friend, Choudhury views the honour as a reflection of a much larger community effort.
“I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive this award,” she said. “While my name may be attached to it, this recognition belongs to the thousands of volunteers, donors, project leaders and community members who have made Feed a Friend what it is today.”
Launched by Qatar Foundation in 2017, Akhlaquna celebrates individuals and community initiatives that champion core ethical values including mercy, honesty, generosity and tolerance. To date, 79 ambassadors have been appointed from among the initiative’s winners.
For Choudhury, however, the recognition is not simply about celebrating past achievements. It is an opportunity to strengthen partnerships, inspire greater community engagement and continue building bridges between those who want to help and those who need support, an approach that has defined Feed a Friend since its earliest days.
“People often think our work is about those receiving support, but it is primarily about the giving,” she said. “There is something transformative about generosity. When people give their time, resources or skills to help someone else, their hearts soften, perspectives change and communities become stronger.”
Looking ahead, Choudhury says the focus for “Feed A Friend” will be on scaling impact in a more structured and sustainable way, ensuring that growth remains rooted in community needs rather than rapid expansion for its own sake. This includes further strengthening volunteer pathways, improving coordination between initiatives, and exploring more efficient ways to match resources with families and individuals who require support.
As the initiative continues to evolve, partnerships remain key to its approach, particularly with Ministers and Qatar Foundation.
She also highlighted the importance of engaging young people more deeply in community service, not only as participants but as future leaders of social impact projects. “We want to create meaningful entry points for youth to contribute, learn and eventually lead,” she said, adding that education and empowerment will remain central pillars of the organisation’s work.
