But these days many Saudi women are finding that they have to cope alone. Thus the Health Committee of the Fatat Al-Khaleej Charity in cooperation with the Ata Al-Khair Center has developed the Private Home Care Program with an aim of providing families with trained assistance when needed. “It’s difficult for men to take time off from work. More women have jobs and families live farther apart,” explained Hussa Olayan, spokesperson for the Ata Al-Khair Center. “Sometimes a woman simply needs a few hours to go to the market or to attend a school function. It can be impossible if there is no one at home to watch an elderly or disabled family member while she goes on her errand. Mothers may need assistance to help care for a newborn. All of these situations are easy to manage if there is a responsible adult to come to the home and help out for a few hours. But where can families find such help? That is why we started this program.” There are now 30 Saudi women in training under the program, which started in July 2009. All the women are high school graduates and in addition to the courses taught by instructors from King Faisal University, they receive a stipend and free transportation.
In July and August, the students took short courses focused on English and computer skills. Then in September, they began a nine-month program divided into three sections concentrating on care for special needs, aged women and young children. The first day of each week the students receive theoretical training and then the next four days they engage in practical training at social institutions concerning the topic under study. Upon completion of the course the women will receive a certificate from King Faisal University and then their skills will be available to the community through the Ata Al-Khair Center.
The ladies at the center mentioned that theirs is the only such program in Saudi Arabia. Another program in Riyadh offers the services of expatriates.
“The graduates of our program are neither housemaids nor home managers” Olayan emphasized. “They are to provide skilled supervision in specific situations. The elderly and disabled cannot communicate well with expatriate household help. Infants require constant care. If a Saudi woman goes out for a few hours to take care of essential matters leaving another responsible, well-trained Saudi woman at her home to care for her family, she will feel empowered and less stressed. The Private Home Care Program is a means to help families deal with the realities of modern life.”The program has significant expenses and committees within the Fatat Al-Khaleej Charity and the Ata Al-Khair Center have been struggling to ensure that all commitments are met. Under the auspices of Princess Jawaher bint Naif, the wife of the Eastern Province governor, last month a massive fundraiser was held at the Al-Gosaibi Hotel. The event focused on the traditional life in Al-Ahsa, with the Al-Ahsa Governorate, Al-Ahsa Chamber of Commerce and King Faisal University in Al-Ahsa all lending support to help make it a success.
“We are grateful to all those who worked with us for six months to create the wonderful fundraiser for the Private Home Care Program,” said Olayan. “But we are also calling on local businesses to come forward and make a commitment to become permanent funding partners as part of their annual corporate social responsibility to the local community. Our program is a very well thought out and well implemented effort. By supporting the Private Home Care Program businesses can demonstrate their intentions to be compassionate contributors to Saudi society.”
