JEDDAH: Fostering a culture of voluntary work was the theme of the second Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) festival on social work, which opened on Monday at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The festival carried the title, "Voluntary Work and Its Impact on Sustained Development."
Prominent figures from welfare societies participated in the symposium, including Abdul Aziz Hifni, Ihsan bin Saleh Tayib, Tarik Saleh Jamal and Khayriah Rihaimi.
In her keynote speech at the festival, Noura Al-Sheikh, supervisor for women's social work in Makkah province, called for adding credit hours for voluntary work to students' normal course curricula.
A symposium chaired by Riza Obaid covered the importance of integration between the public and private sectors to achieve sustainable development.
Abdullah Al-Sadhan, Mahmoud bin Safar, Abdullah Sadiq Dahlan as well as Hala Ali Al-Shaer of the Women's Welfare Society participated in the symposium.
Talking to Arab News, Al-Sheikh said the festival aimed to further consolidate solidarity among people of GCC countries.
"The festival also aims to encourage an exchange of expertise and skills through brainstorming and further cementing the cordial ties of love and brotherhood among GCC citizens," Al-Sheikh added.
By OMAIMA AL-FARDAN
© Arab News 2010
