Crown Prince stresses need for GCC to strengthen fraternal ties
His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah visited the venue of the first meeting of the 28th session of the Consultative Body of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). His Highness was received by Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, Chairman of the Consultative Body for the 28th session Nasser Abdullah Al-Roudhan and Deputy Chairman of the Consultative Body for the 28th session Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada. His Highness the Crown Prince conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the members of the delegations participating in the meeting held in Kuwait. His Highness the Crown Prince also stressed the need to strengthen fraternal ties among the GCC countries and enhance joint efforts to achieve the aspirations of the GCC countries and their peoples to reach the desired renaissance at all levels, wishing them success. — KUNA
Al-Najat Charity opens residential village in Taiz governorate
Kuwait’s Al-Najat Charitable Society on Wednesday inaugurated the village of the late Mutlaq Al-Awaid, which consists of 30 housing units with service facilities in the Al-Zahari area in the coastal Al-Mokha district in Taiz Governorate, southwest of Yemen, as part of the “Kuwait by Your Side” campaign in its tenth year in a row. The local “Yanabi’ Al-Khair” Foundation, which is implementing the project, said in a press statement that the village, which also bears the name “Al-Khaireen 5,” includes 30 housing units, each consisting of two rooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, and an equipped hall, with the delivery of small projects to the beneficiary families of the affected and orphans to provide suitable housing and stability factors.
The statement added that the village project included the establishment of a primary school with 6 classrooms and an administrative office with furnishing, distributing school bags, books, and school uniforms for students, building an integrated mosque with its facilities and equipment, and a health unit equipped with the necessary devices and supplies to provide basic services to the villagers. — KUNA
Fatwa Dept., French Council organize training program
The Fatwa and Legislation Department organized its first training program on Tuesday, in collaboration with France’s Council of State, as part of the cooperation protocol signed between the two sides in March 2022. The Head of the Fatwa and Legislation Department, Salah Al-Majed, said that the program aims to exchange specialized information and documents in addition to develop expertise in issues of mutual interest, particularly those related to public law and administrative jurisprudence. The cooperation also includes organizing joint studies, seminars, conferences, and workshops between the two institutions, he added.
Al-Majed stressed the Fatwa and Legislation Department’s commitment to organizing training programs designed to empower its employees, enhance their professional skills, improve their performance, and increase their efficiency in their respective areas of responsibility. He also emphasized the importance of establishing a legal culture and professional principles to achieve the public interest. The program featured a lecture by Jean-Yves Ollier, member of the French Council of State, and was attended by several agents, counselors, and technical members from the department. — KUNA
15th Kuwaiti humanitarian planeload takes off to Syria
The 15th Kuwaiti plane took off on Wednesday to Damascus International Airport with 40 tons of food and necessary relief material on board as part of the “Kuwait by Your Side” campaign. Director General of the Kuwait Zakat House, Dr. Majed Al-Azmi, affirmed to KUNA before takeoff that thanks to the lofty directives of the wise leadership in the country, official bodies continue to combine their efforts to send more diverse relief aid to support and assist our brothers in Syria until the situation there stabilizes.
Al-Azmi said that the aid comes in light of the urgent needs of the families there for basics such as food, medicine, shelter, and winter supplies, noting that flour is one of the most important materials currently needed by the families and on which they depend mainly, as it was chosen in coordination and cooperation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.
For his part, the Acting Deputy Director General of Zakat House for Resources and Media, Adel Al-Jari, said that Zakat House allocated about KD 100,000 as a first phase for relief trips, which came from donations from benefactors from Kuwait to support and assist the Syrian people. This trip is the first for the Kuwaiti Zakat House, bringing the total Kuwaiti relief aid sent to Syria to date to 443 tons of various relief aid. — KUNA
30th Al-Qurain Cultural Festival will be launched on February 3
The National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) announced that the 30th edition of the Qurain Cultural Festival will kick off on Feb 3 and will continue until Feb 12 under the slogan “Thirty Years of Leadership and Giving.” The council explained in a press statement on Monday that the festival embodies a journey of three decades of cultural creativity, as it presents a schedule full of events that combine arts, music, literature and intellectual seminars.
The statement quoted the assistant secretary for the culture sector at the council and vice president of the 30th Qurain Cultural Festival, Aisha Al-Mahmoud, as saying that there is a distinguished collection of events that will be included in the festival, which are in line with what the cultural arena needs in terms of movement that is compatible with the current era and the developments and modern technologies that have accompanied it in all its fields.
Al-Mahmoud stated that the Qurain Festival aims to enhance the cultural movement in the country and the region while shedding light on local and international creativity in the fields of art, music, theater, and literature and also reflects Kuwait’s interest in preserving national heritage and keeping pace with future cultural challenges.
She added that the Jaber Al-Ali Theater at Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center will host the opening ceremony of the festival, while the morning and evening events and activities include a photo exhibition from ‘Kuwait’s Past’ that will be held at The Avenues Mall and another exhibition on the National Council’s publications accompanied by the exhibition “Al-Qurain: Thirty Years of Leadership and Giving that will be held at the Faculty of Arts at Kuwait University in Shadadiyah”.
She indicated that a lecture entitled ‘The Geological Archaeological Impact of the Subiya Area’ will be held at the Kuwait National Museum in addition to a cultural forum entitled “Thirty Years of Creative Culture in Facing Future Challenges”. The main symposium of the Al-Qurain Cultural Festival will be entitled “The Dialectic of Criticism and Creative Text” and will continue for three days in two morning and evening sessions at the St. Regis Hotel. Al-Mahmoud said that the festival will include the late writer Abdulaziz Al-Babtain’s lighthouse at the Al-Babtain Central Library for Arabic Poetry in appreciation of one of the pioneers of the cultural renaissance in the country, while the “Panorama of the Qurain Cultural Festival” will be held at the Kuwait National Library.
The festival will include a number of artistic events, including a musical evening entitled ‘Kuwaiti Samariat by Khalaf Al-Adwani’ at the Yarmouk Cultural Center and an evening of the movie (Cinderella) at the Yarmouk Cultural Center as well, while the ‘Qurain Comprehensive Art Exhibition’ will be held at the Museum of Modern Art in Mishref.
A ceremony will also be held to honor the festival’s personality, the Saudi Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghadami, followed by a dialogue session. A lecture entitled “Results of Excavation Seasons at Tell Abu Suwan Site - Jerash (Jordan)” will be presented by Dr Maysoun Abdulghani at the Yarmouk Cultural Center. – KUNA
"Al-Nouri Charity" Executes the Hope Medical Camp for Refugees in Jordan and Provides Aid to Those in Need in Kenya
As part of its ongoing humanitarian efforts to support those in need around the world, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri Charity implemented the Hope Surgical Medical Camp for refugees and the poor in Jordan, achieving significant success with 485 specialized surgeries performed.
The procedures conducted by the medical team at the camp varied, including cosmetic surgeries, general surgeries for children, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatric urology, as well as eye surgeries, cardiac catheterization, and ENT surgeries. These operations were carried out by a specialized medical team comprising 35 Kuwaiti consulting physicians, along with complete nursing and administrative teams.
In a statement, Abdul Latif Al-Dawwas, Director of Resources and Media Sector at Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri Charity, stated that the implementation of the Hope Medical Camp reaffirmed the association's commitment to providing necessary healthcare for those in need, especially in areas facing difficult humanitarian conditions. He clarified that the camp had a significant impact on alleviating the suffering of many patients who were unable to access treatment due to economic and social circumstances.
Al-Dawwas added: "We are proud of this camp's accomplishment, which reflects the spirit of collaboration and solidarity among doctors and the medical staff in serving humanity."
In the same context, the charity launched an aid campaign for those in need in Kenya, encompassing several vital projects aimed at improving the lives of the poor and deprived. A cornerstone was laid for a village for widows, orphans, and the poor, as well as for an eye hospital in a low-income area. Additionally, several mosques and educational schools were inaugurated to provide a better educational and health environment for children and families in the region.
Al-Dawwas mentioned that the charity distributed various humanitarian aids to the poor in Kenya, including food supplies, clothing, and medicines, aimed at improving their living conditions and alleviating their suffering. He further stated: "These projects are part of our continuous strategy to support poor and needy communities worldwide, as we always seek to provide urgent and sustainable support to improve the lives of individuals and families."
Furthermore, Al-Dawwas expressed his gratitude and prayers to the generous donors and benefactors for their blessed support of the charity's projects, campaigns, and humanitarian programs, asking God Almighty to accept their contributions and to weigh them in their deeds.
Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri Charity continues to implement numerous humanitarian initiatives targeting the most vulnerable groups in various countries, embodying the noble humanitarian values that the charity believes in.
Regarding local projects implemented by the charity to support the Kuwaiti community, Al-Dawwas clarified that Al-Nouri Charity distributed used clothing to modest families within Kuwait in cooperation with the volunteer team "Yameenak Ta'eenak," benefiting a total of 1,542 individuals. He also indicated that the charity provided winter clothing kits for about 16,000 workers in Kuwait, affirming that the charity offers internal projects to achieve social solidarity and cooperation alongside its humanitarian work in many countries.
Al-Mujtama
"Hofath" to Organize Annual Umrah Trip for Outstanding Students on January 16
As part of its efforts to serve the Holy Quran, the Kuwaiti Charity Association for the Service of the Quran and Its Sciences (Hofath) continues its preparations for the sixth annual "Hofath" Umrah trip for distinguished students, scheduled to launch on January 16, God willing.
The Treasurer of the Association and Board Member Adel Al-Draeban stated that "Hofath" is moving forward on its path towards continuous motivation for male and female students of the "Hofath Model" centers, through awards and encouraging activities, most notably the annual Umrah pilgrimage that includes 50 students every year.
Al-Draeban explained that the sixth Umrah journey of "Hifath," which the association is organizing on January 16th, will, God willing, be an extension of previous trips for our distinguished students; students are carefully and sincerely selected, as those who excel in memorization, commitment, and regular attendance in Quran circles are nominated and chosen. This also serves as encouragement for them to continue their efforts in memorizing and studying the Book of Allah, the Almighty.
He added: As is customary with "Hofath," it seeks to always excel and achieve leadership in its works and programs in caring for the students of Quranic centers and their families and motivating them, keeping in mind its goal of being a beacon for the Quran and its people and an attractive environment for those interested in learning the Holy Quran.
Al-Draeban stated that the Kuwait Charity Association for the Service of the Holy Quran and Its Sciences (Hofath) continues to play its role through its charitable and Quranic projects, calling on generous individuals to continue their support for the Association's projects through donations on its website hofath.org.
Al-Mujtama
(Balad Al-Khair) launches the "Water Provision Project" in collaboration with the General Secretariat for Awqaf
The Balad Al-Khair Association has launched the "Water Provision Project," which aims to provide clean water in many areas within the State of Kuwait, in collaboration with the General Secretariat for Awqaf.
The past period has witnessed cooperation between the association and the General Secretariat for Awqaf to implement several charitable projects within the State of Kuwait.
Osman Al-Thuwaineh, the Director of Balad Al-Khair Association, confirmed that the "Water Provision Project" is one form of fruitful cooperation with the General Secretariat for Awqaf, through which 442,500 bottles of water have been provided and distributed in various regions within Kuwait, benefiting the poor workers, mosque-goers, hospitals, and others.
He added that the project has provided 22,125 water boxes at a total cost of 9,956 Kuwaiti Dinars.
Al-Thuwaineh noted that the Balad Al-Khair Association had contracted with Al-Rumaih Trading and Contracting Company (Ain Water), and a delegation from the General Secretariat for Awqaf visited the water production factory, and the plan for water distribution in areas affiliated with the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Awqaf, the Municipality of Kuwait, and public places, as well as new residential and labor areas under construction, has begun.
The Director of Balad Al-Khair Association pointed out that thousands of beneficiaries have received clean water, especially in areas where water is not readily available nearby.
Al-Thuwaineh continued that water provision projects are among the most important charitable projects that the association seeks to implement due to the great need of people for water and their inability to do without it at any time. Additionally, providing water is one of the best charitable acts, and the best of all charities, which is why the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The best charity is to provide water" (narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Al-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah).
Al-Thuwaineh concluded by emphasizing that the upcoming period will witness more efforts in light of everyone's commitment to lend a helping hand to anyone in need and to dedicate more efforts to improve the lives of beneficiaries in Kuwait.
Al-Mujtama
