ABHA: Asir Gov. Prince Faisal bin Khaled yesterday opened an international forum on volunteerism at Abha Palace Hotel and emphasized the need for conducting charitable and voluntary activities in a more organized and transparent manner.
“Charitable and voluntary work can be carried out effectively through management, planning and consultancy. There is no room for individual discretions and this work requires more clarity and transparency,” he said.
Prince Faisal praised Saudis for contributing in charitable and voluntary activities, and helping people in need and the victims of natural and man-made calamities. He also opened an exhibition, which is attended by 17 organizations.
Former Malaysian Premier Mahathir Mohamad, King Khaled University Rector Abdullah Al-Rashid, Undersecretary at the Asir governorate Abdul Kareem Al-Hunaini and other top officials attended the opening session.
Social Affairs Minister Yousuf Al-Othaimeen said the forum would contribute to promoting a culture of volunteerism and boosting charitable activities. He said there are about 500 charitable organizations across the Kingdom. He also urged businessmen and NGOs to support voluntary work.
“This is the first such forum in the Middle East,” said Ehab Hassan Aburakba, secretary-general of the forum. “It aims at developing a culture of volunteerism and transform it into a professional work.” More than 30 working papers will be discussed by 40 experts from 16 countries during the three-day conference.
Riyad Al-Abdul Kareem, deputy director general of King Khaled Charitable Foundation, spoke on the importance of voluntary work and its positive impact on individuals and society.
“We have signed an agreement with the UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia to organize national capacity building courses in the Kingdom, and another agreement with Columbia University to develop national capacity in charitable work,” he said.
Earlier, speaking to Arab News, Aburakba said the Chinese have the most successful experience in voluntary work. “Charitable activities in the Kingdom lack proper organization. There is no law to govern charitable work,” he pointed out.
He said one of the objectives of the forum was to correct the wrong perceptions about charitable work and its link with terrorism. He said the Saudi authorities closed down some organizations suspected of financing terrorism.
Speaking about the three workshops at the forum, Aburakba said one of them was for senior executives of charitable organizations to improve the quality of their services.
The second will focus on marketing voluntary services while the third will discuss Chinese experience in the field.
