RIYADH, 26 September 2007 — Governor of Riyadh and Chairman of the Charity Committee for Orphans’ Care (INSAN) Prince Salman stressed the importance of caring for orphans. He said that the Saudi government was keen to provide care for orphans based on Islamic principles.
“Caring for orphans is one of the most important things we can do,” said Prince Salman at INSAN’s sixth annual ceremony held Monday evening. The ceremony was attended by Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh as well as by businessmen and philanthropists.
“The government is doing its duty. And we as a collaborative society should work together as one under the guidelines of the Qur’an and Sunnah in order to care for orphans,” he added. “This is what God has ordered us to do.”
Prince Salman made a donation of SR3 million on behalf of himself and his sons to INSAN’s newly established endowment fund. The creation of the fund was announced on the eve of the society’s general assembly meeting in Riyadh under the chairmanship of Prince Salman.
The new fund will invest in bonds and securities that conform with Shariah regulations as well as in Islamic sukuk and other areas. The aim is to create financial resources to meet the society’s growing expenses as it caters to the needs of an increasing number of orphans. The Council of Senior Islamic Scholars has approved the fund.
Prince Faisal Bin Salman, chairman of the Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG) and president of the development committee of INSAN, said that caring for orphans meant preparing them to be good citizens in the future.
“The charity committee works by the grace of God with funds received from philanthropists in this country,” said Prince Faisal. He said the aim of establishing a development committee within the charity committee was to plan and oversee its future development plans.
Commenting on the new endowment fund, Prince Faisal said INSAN has planned a 10-year strategy for its new endowment fund. “The endowment fund’s offices will be along King Fahd Road in Riyadh. The fund is expected to generate revenues of SR7 million per year,” he said.
Prince Faisal pointed out that the endowment fund’s capital would be set by the general assembly and the profits would go to orphans. “It is considered to be among the modern methods of endowment management,” he said.
INSAN Secretary-General Dr. Humoud Al-Badr said the aim of the charity committee was to provide financial, educational and social support to orphans. “INSAN provides care to 21,700 male and female orphans through its four centers in Riyadh and its fifth center in Al-Kharj,” he said.
Al-Badr said that INSAN also sees to it that orphans are given rehabilitation courses which will benefit them in the future.
INSAN was established some eight years ago in Riyadh as a charitable committee to provide care to orphans in the community. The society plans to spend more than SR79 million this year on various programs. Last year it spent SR67 million.
