“The Voluntary Welfare Society for Productive Families will sponsor more than 300,000 productive families throughout the Kingdom in the first two years of its establishment,” said Abdul Rahman Al-Nasser.
Al-Nasser said the establishment of the welfare society is a culmination of the efforts exerted during the past few years to assist this segment of society.
He said the objectives of the charity comply with those of the Ministry of Social Affairs, which aim to make the poor families who depend on the ministry’s support self-reliant.
“The welfare society will endeavor to qualify as many poor families as possible to become productive members of society with their own steady source of income,” he said.
Al-Nasser said the society will promote the social, cultural and health awareness of the members of these families and will assist them in establishing projects that will develop the skills of their members.
He said the society will conduct studies and research on the conditions of the poor families and will organize special exhibitions to promote their products.
“It will also encourage philanthropists to extend helping hands to these families until they are able to depend on themselves,” he said, adding that the work of the society will not be limited to the poor families only but also would help any family wishing to make itself productive.
Al-Nasser said 22 founding members of the society, including academics, businessmen and philanthropists, will hold a meeting next Monday to elect a board of directors and to approve the society’s work plan.
Saudi businesswoman Ulfat Qabbani, who chaired the first forum for productive families, welcomed the establishment of the society and said it was a step forward toward assisting the poor families in the Kingdom.
“It represents a realization of a dream to create a partnership between the public and private sectors for the welfare of the poor and needy families,” she said.
“The society can draw up a plan to finance projects of more than 100,000 productive Saudi families and make this segment an important part for sustainable development.”
