RIYADH: Youssef bin Othman Al-Huzaim, secretary-general of Princess Al-Anood Philanthropic Foundation, has announced the launch of a special course in Arabic at the foundation headquarters for diplomats and their families.
The announcement was made at an iftar party hosted by the foundation at Al-Anood Novotel attended by foreign diplomats on Friday. Al-Huzaim said the foundation will also host a grand party at the Diplomatic Quarter during Eid Al-Fitr for all ambassadors and their families.
The foundation concluded its four-day symposium that sought to bridge the cultural divide between Saudis and the diplomatic community by promoting better understanding of Saudi culture and its people.
"I want to break the wall between our guests (diplomats) and our people," Al-Huzaim observed. "I've noticed that there is a perception gap that prevents our guests from interacting with us because of some negative images they had before coming here." Al-Huzaim emphasized that this misconception needed to be eliminated.
Speaking on the expatriates' role in contributing to the growth and development of modern Saudi Arabia, the official said: "We highly appreciate the expatriates' contribution in this regard. Their legal rights are preserved here because Saudi Arabia strictly implements the Shariah law. Many of them, despite their long stay here, are wishing to come back again because of their good experience here."
On his part, Hamza Sahin, educational counselor at the Turkish Embassy, said a stereotyped image of any society could only be corrected through first-hand experience. "This opportunity gives us the first-hand and reliable experience on Saudi Arabia," he said, adding: "I am really interested in improving my Arabic along with that of my family. Our government has also directed the foreign service personnel to learn Arabic."
A Singaporean diplomat, Mohammad Mahmood Aljunaid, said attending a symposium in a mosque was an amazing experience. "I was really surprised when I entered the mosque along with European diplomats," Aljunaid said, adding that the event was a standing testimony to the spirit of tolerance in Islam "unlike what others might think."
A similar observation was made by Martin Fernández de Navarrete of Spain. "I feel at home here as I do not feel in many European countries. Here, the people are very friendly and they have a great king."
Princess Al-Anood Philanthropic Foundation belongs to the eponymous wife of late King Fahd. The foundation is investing SR1,400 million, which is a will of Princess Al-Anood, in real estate to sustain its philanthropic services, including the twin towers hotel along King Fahd Road in Riyadh.
It is providing, among other things, 500,000 iftar meals Kingdomwide this year. As many as 120,000 families will benefit from the program to be implemented through 25 charitable organizations.
The foundation also built mosques and houses for poor Saudi families in remote areas. They sponsor orphanages and provide medical treatment for needy Saudi families. Future programs will provide for educational facilities and manpower training as part of charitable work.
© Arab News 2011
