Kuwait's alms house prepares for donation, humanitarian campaigns

By Zaid Al-Sarbal (with photos)

KUWAIT, June 21 (KUNA) -- The approaching Islamic holy month of Ramadan brings forth new charitable initiatives from Bait Al-Zakat (the alms house), the government authority responsible of donations to the needy in and outside Kuwait.

These initiatives include programs aimed at reviving the Islamic pillar of Zakat and inventing new channels to accept donations and provide meals for fast-breaking for those in need.

During a visit to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Saturday, Bait Al-Zakat's Director of Public Relations and Media Dr. Khaled Yousif Al-Shatti and Head of Press and Publishing Hamad Salem Al-Merri jointly announced that these programs are to be promoted through billboards, commercials and newspaper ads on a daily basis to further spread awareness regarding the humanitarian deeds.

The charity officials indicated at a scheduled campaign aimed to persuade families in Kuwait to cut down on spending, especially with the rise of unsettled loans, witnessed locally.

These people-centered programs are to kick off in mid-August, just before Ramadan, and will continue until March 2009, after being provided with the necessary funding.

Bait Al-Zakat has a few of awards for the charity and aid it has given to thousands of people across the world, including an award from the late Amir, Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, as well as an award from Bahrain.

Bait Al-Zakat, in 2007, spent KD 32.919 million, including KD 25.375 million distributed to families in Kuwait.

Major contributors to the gigantic stately-owned charity organization include His Highness Chief of the National Guards Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah who offered an amount of KD 100 million to families accross Kuwait.

Another is Bader Shaikhan Al-Faresi who takes care of 3,500 underprivileged families on a monthly basis, providing them with food and shelter.

"Kuwaiti people are very generous," Al Merri said.