JEDDAH: The Secretary-General of Al-Bir Charity Organization in Baljurashi, Ali Al-Jama’an, has denied that the organization provides donations to families who are not in need. He said the aid is given based on fieldwork conducted by volunteers and full-time employees in different villages of the region. The research included families who are in need but who do not ask for donations from the organization.
Al-Jama’an clarified that the number of families receiving assistance from the organization exceeded 1,300 with over 3,000 family members. The budget assigned for this Ramadan season was SR2 million. A second round of donations will be distributed in five months’ time. The school bag program, he said, would help 700 students this school year.
The organization also provides training programs for registered families. The programs include both men and women who are willing to continue their education at private medical colleges inside the Kingdom. The amount given to each student per year is SR52,000. Some 110 students of both sexes have also been received training courses in computer programming and translation. These students are given jobs with the Job Coordination Committee in the region and also with businessmen and the private sector.
Al-Jama’an further added that the organization helps families to stand on their own by aiding small business projects, particularly the traditional restaurant projects. The women who take advantage of this program give eight percent of their profits to the organization and keep the rest for themselves. The organization provides the space and all equipment women need to run their businesses and become financially independent.
According to Al-Jama’an the organization divides families they help into two categories: families living below the poverty line, and orphans without financial means and a guardian; and families with an income of SR4,000 a month but who have over 17 family members.
The number of family members means that the monthly salary is insufficient and so they turn to the organization for help.
The Ministry of Social Affairs provides an annual contribution of SR250,000 to the organization; other contributions are made by businessmen in Baha province.
