RIYADH: The King Abdullah Center for National Dialogue (KACND) signed on Thursday an agreement with Al-Nahdah Philanthropic Society for Women to forge ties in promoting a culture of family dialogue.
The agreement -- which was signed by President of Al-Nahdah Princess Sara Al-Faisal and President of the National Assembly of Intellectual Dialogue at KACND Saleh Al-Husain -- will also see the two institutes cooperate with each other in training. KACND will design strategic training programs and prepare trainers through workshops to spread a culture of dialogue.
"Through this agreement, we hope to activate ... dialogue as per the directions of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan, and achieve the expected goal of spreading a culture of dialogue, moderation and tolerance," said Princess Sara Al-Faisal.
Faisal Al-Muammar, secretary general at KACND, said the agreement comes under the framework of efforts made by the center to enhance cooperation between itself and other institutes to promote a culture of dialogue, moderation and tolerance in Saudi society.
"In its first stage, the agreement will target families that are under the sponsorship of Al-Nahdah Society; we will be designing training programs on developing skills pertaining to communication and dialogue," said Princess Modi Al-Khaled, secretary-general of Al-Nahdah Society.
Saleh Al-Husain said the aim of promoting dialogue was to unite society, while working in a preventive mode leaving little space for conflict. Princess Modi added that "a person who accepts the other and understands him is a person understood and accepted by his own family through dialogue."
Faisal Al-Muammar said that KACND relies greatly on Al-Nahdah Society to spread a culture of dialogue in individual families, adding "no matter how important a man's role is in society, a woman's role often surpasses it in regards to preparing the family and the offspring for the future."
By Walaa Hawari
© Arab News 2009
