Electronic charity — a modern way to attract do-gooders

Courtesy photo

JEDDAH: Making donations and performing acts of charity today is faster and easier, as charities and offices established for this purpose have set up specific bank accounts for direct charity donations and are using social media to publicize charity programs, which makes it more convenient for those looking to do good.
Groups of young people working for various charities have been spotted in several major mosques in Jeddah, raising awareness and distributing leaflets about charity programs.
People wishing to donate can do so directly through bank accounts or by communicating with charities via social media; some of those promoting charity work were seen carrying credit card payment devices to enable individuals to make direct donations to charities.
Director of the Cooperative Office for the Call and Guidance and Community Awareness in Jeddah Talal Al-Ahmadi said “charity work has been advancing in recent years, with donations shifting to be made electronically, rather than by hand.”
He said his office manages all its activities electronically and receives donations via its bank account; it also relies on social media to spread awareness and information and reach millions of people.
Al-Ahmadi also said that as per the Ministry of Interior’s regulations, “no donations can be collected directly except at the charity’s offices, so individuals who cannot access the internet or the elderly can thus make their donations, after their national ID card is verified.”
Regarding people who converted to Islam at the office, Al-Ahmadi said there were 560 such new cases last year, or about 60 conversions per month. He said the office witnesses a new individual converting to Islam every 13 hours.