JEDDAH, 13 August 2006 — After signing a petition condemning the US and UK support for Israel’s large-scale war on Lebanon, Saudi women chose not to confine their activism to words alone.
So the group has become the first women contingent of the Saudi Red Crescent Society after Dr. Salih Hamad Al-Tuwaijri, the organization’s president, accepted their proposal.
“All over the world civil society organizations have a database of volunteers they refer to in times of crisis,” said Fawziya Abu Khaled, a poet and sociology professor at King Saud University.
The group consists of about 20 women so far who are building a database of potential donors and volunteers and are planning to hold fund-raising events.
Fawziya says the all-women volunteer unit aims not only to help the Lebanese people, but also to spread awareness of the needs and benefits of philanthropy in Saudi Arabia.
Starting the organization proved to be a challenge. First they needed to be officially recognized in the Kingdom in order to accept donations.
A week ago Princess Sarah bint Talal, Fawziya Abu Khaled, Hatoon Al-Fassi, Hissa Al-Sheikh, Hind Al-Sheikh, Wafaa Al-Munif, Fatma Al-Khereiji, Modi Al-Qunaibet, Maha Al-Qunaibet, Suaad Al-Manie and Aziza Al-Manie first approached officials at the Arab Gulf Program for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND) regarding the possibility of working under the association’s umbrella as a fund-raising unit.
The women were told that the AGFUND doesn’t take donations and has its own funding. Officials there suggested that the women approach the Saudi Red Crescent Society, which quickly accepted the idea of creating a women’s volunteer unit. The women were given an account number they could use for accepting donations.
Armed with the support of a legitimate charity organization, the women went about on their first project: Raising donations for the innocent civilian victims of the Israeli war on Lebanon. They contacted Lebanese charity groups as well as members of the Saudi business community seeking donations to help war victims.
“We also have in mind many ideas for a charity bazaar or holding literary and artistic events with the proceeds going to Lebanon,” said Fawziya. She said the women’s petition condemning Israeli attacks has been circulated to Western embassies in Riyadh. The petition was sent with a strongly worded cover letter signed by Princess Sarah on behalf of the women.
Fawziya said the only response were letters “justifying” Israel’s massive military retaliation against Lebanese civilians in response to Hezbollah’s capture of two soldiers on July 12.
The new unit is currently seeking more women volunteers of all ages to help participate in planned activities. Women in Riyadh who would like to join or anyone who wants to donate materials or money can contact: 0508105736 and 0508102483.
