JEDDAH: The Ektifa Women’s Charitable Society in Jeddah have set up a database of 37,000 poor families in 12 underdeveloped residential districts in the city in order to make them self-sufficient after providing them with necessary assistance.
“In the first stage we’ll support 1,000 families with the objective of making them self-sufficient within a period of five years,” said Jowhara Al-Anqari, chairperson of the society.
“We have a plan to conduct a survey of the various parts of the Makkah province including Jeddah, Makkah and Taif in order to get a clear picture of poor families and their requirements,” Al-Anqari said.
She said the project was also aimed at linking poor families and individuals with the agencies that provide social service.
“Ektifa aims at achieving sustained development and self-sufficiency for needy families. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has said that the best food eaten by a person is the one he got as a result of his work,” she said. Al-Anqari said her organization was successful in achieving two challenges; first, the formation of a full-fledged women field research team and second, the setting up of database of needy families. “By doing so we have given a clear vision to social and charitable organizations,” she said.
Raeda Binladin, secretary-general of Ektifa, disclosed the organization’s plan to conduct a comprehensive survey of cities, towns and villages in the Makkah province to carry out its work in an effective manner.
“This survey will achieve our vision of becoming an effective reference for contacts between poor families and individuals and the wealthy as part of our efforts to achieve self-sufficiency for needy families.”
Binladin said Ektifa is not satisfied with just preparing the data of the poor but conducted a study on the reasons for the poverty and suggested solutions for them by linking them with philanthropists and charitable bodies who could support them.
She said Ektifa focuses on four main programs; the field survey of underdeveloped areas in the Makkah province is one of them.
“By the Grace of God we have completed the first phase of surveying 12 residential districts,” she said.
The society makes statistical analysis of the data collected, she said, adding that it implements a new concept in tackling emergency cases. “We take the help of philanthropists in dealing with such cases,” she added.
