KUWAIT CITY, July 1: A delegation of the heads and representatives of charitable organizations visited the Central Prison on Monday as part of the second phase of the ‘Sanadhom’ initiative to review the implementation of projects for inmates. “Director of the General Administration of Correctional Institutions Brigadier General Fahd Al-Obaid said “the correctional institutions are witnessing an advanced stage of community partnership, thanks to the ‘Sanadhom’ initiative -- one of the leading national models of cooperation between the Ministry of Interior, National Bureau for Human Rights, Namaa Charity and Human Construction Society in serving the inmates at the Central Prison.”

Al-Obaid disclosed that “the initiative began in September 2023, during which we were able to implement 10 development and humanitarian projects in the first phase. As we move into the second phase, we are working hard to launch more than 40 new projects; including vocational training, rehabilitation, psychological support, and infrastructure development for correctional institutions.” He said more than 10 charitable organizations are participating in coordination meetings as part of their efforts to contribute to this initiative.

“These organizations are conducting field visits to current and planned project sites, in a humanitarian and charitable effort that embodies the spirit of cooperation and integration among Kuwaiti charitable institutions,” he added.

Meanwhile, Saad Al-Otaibi -- Chairman of the Union of Charitable Societies and Endowments -- pointed out that the ‘Sanadhom’ initiative is not a temporary project, as it is a living model of national integration between State institutions and the charitable and private sectors to play a joint role in supporting correctional institutions and strengthening their noble mission of reforming inmates and preparing them to return to society as active and constructive individuals. He said “we are witnessing a pivotal stage in human life. The Kuwaiti charitable sector, with its genuine generosity, stands at the forefront of supporting this initiative, which is being championed by the National Bureau for Human Rights, with the participation of various official and civil society organizations. This initiative embodies the spirit of social responsibility and collaborative national action.”

He pointed out that charitable work in the country is a longstanding and deeply rooted effort, representing 38 percent of total charitable spending, as confirmed by statistics published in cooperation between the union and the Ministry of Social Affairs. “This is a good percentage that reflects the extent of the associations’ commitment to domestic affairs,” he stressed. Director of the International Islamic Charitable Organization Bader Al-Sumait stated that the initiative is one of the pioneering national projects. He emphasized that the presence of charitable organizations is a sincere expression of their commitment to their national and humanitarian role, and their active participation stems from their deep belief in the importance of supporting inmates, not only out of charity, but also out of shared social responsibility. He revealed, “We have been presented with several projects that address the needs of inmates. We work with the relevant authorities to adopt plausible projects, contributing to the inmates’ rehabilitation and integration into society positively and effectively.” Walid Al-Bassam, Head of the Projects and Development Sector at Namaa Charity in the Social Reform Society, asserted that the first phase of the initiative -- during which Namaa Charity completed four vital facilities -- contributes to ongoing efforts to support and rehabilitate the inmates.

By Mohammad Al-Enezi
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff