JEDDAH, 24 June 2007 — A committee responsible for rehabilitating ex-convicts into productive members of society is holding a welfare caravan tomorrow aiming at raising awareness on the importance of supporting these former inmates and their families, according to Maj. Gen. Ahmad Al-Zahrani, general manager of Jeddah prisons. The committee is private and relies on charitable donations.
The caravan will be divided into two stages: The first phase will start from Jeddah’s Muntazah Al-Nakheel to the Palace of the Orient at 5 p.m. This parade will include folklore dancing. There will be around 150 cars of the sponsors and governmental sectors, including the committee and the general administration for prisons. The event is taking place in cooperation with the Traffic Police.
“We want to make the event entertaining and fun so that the message is received by the public,” said Saud Al-Akeel, executive manager of the campaign and chairman of Marbelife public relations group, which is organizing the event. The second stage of the parade will start after Maghreb, led by Jeddah Governor Prince Meshaal ibn Majed. It will leave from the hotel to the Camel Roundabout at the end of King’s Road.
“The general administration for prisoners is keen on allowing prisoners to learn different skills and be educated so that they can get out of prisons and work to benefit themselves and society,” Al-Akeel said. The general administration for prisoners has established six schools in Jeddah prisons, including the three levels: elementary, middle, and high school.
