Kuwait marks academic scholarships centenary
As Kuwait marks the centenary of academic scholarship programs, which saw its sons and daughters head abroad to gain knowledge and skills, the state continues to invest in such schemes to meet challenges and build a better future. In 1924, Kuwait sent its very first scholarship delegation to Baghdad, Iraq, which included seven students: Sheikh Fahad Salem Al-Sabah, Mohammad Al-Dosiri, Khaled Al-Adsani, Ahmad Al-Ali, Abdulkareem Al-Ali, Abdullah Al-Abduljaleel, and Salman Al-Enezi.
The state is currently reworking measures to overhaul the negative aspects of the scholarship program and further develop them to avoid wasting of finances and elevate the level of academia and knowledge seeking. Tasked with the tremendous responsibility, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr Adel Al-Adwani had assigned a committee to look into the matter to achieve the national development goals for education, especially within scholarship programs.
The minister said that the task was daunting; however, it should not stand in the way of finding serious and fundamental solutions for scholarship programs, which caused undeniable waste of financial resources. Creating solutions for scholarship problems would help develop Kuwait’s youth foundation, achieving the goals set by the Kuwait Vision 2035 in meeting demands of the job market and establishing a strong foundation for education. According to a 2023 annual report by the State Audit Bureau, some 4,432 students academically faltered between 2020 and 2022, a number overshadowing similar statistics in 2013-14 and 2017-18 with only 2,634.
Faltering causes woes for students who could not continue their academic quest in addition to affecting their parents financially. The State of Kuwait has set a considerable budget for scholarships and also provides scholarship students with a monthly allowance in accordance with the country of scholarship. Students with A merit scholarships also have a monthly bonus of 50 percent on top of their monthly allowance, while students with B merit scholarships get around a 25 percent bonus.
While expenses are on the rise, the state has made it clear that any losses from the higher education budget must be dealt with; therefore, the government will come out with a study that sets plans for annual scholarships to avoid wastefulness and also focus on the academic policies beneficial for students and Kuwait.
The Ministry of Higher Education had established several initiatives, including the Al-Deera (country) system, which academically linked Kuwaiti cultural bureaus abroad. The scholarships are also within Kuwait to help provide more options to students. It is worthy noting that Kuwait is eager to create a system for academic development able to face challenges, progressing skills of citizens and institutes in accordance with the 2024-25 annual development plan. — KUNA
Kuwait population hits 4.919 million
The Public Authority for Civil Information (PACI) issued the latest detailed statistics on population and employment at the end of June 2024. The data shows that total population in Kuwait reached 4.919 million people at the end of June 2024, recording a semi-annual growth of 1.2 percent or an actual increase by 59,900 people compared to the end of 2023 at 4.860 million people. The total number of population achieved an increase by 2.6 percent in 2023 compared to a greater rise of 8.0 percent in 2022.
The Kuwaiti population increased during the first half of 2024 by 13,700, with a growth rate of 0.9 percent (1.8 percent expected annual rate), bringing their total number to 1.560 million people with their percentage slightly decreasing out the total population from 31.8 percent at the end of 2023 to 31.7 percent according to the latest figures. The number of Kuwaiti females amounted to 794,000, exceeding the number of males at 765,900.
The number of the non-Kuwaiti population rose by 45,300, a growth rate of 1.4 percent and reached 3.359 million people, with a compound annual growth rate during the period of 2015 – June 2024 at 1.6 percent. The total number of workers in Kuwait reached 3.044 million workers or 61.9 percent of the total population, while this percentage for Kuwaitis reached 32.5 percent of the total Kuwaiti population, and it is noted that the percentage of non-Kuwaiti workers out of the total non-Kuwaiti population reached 75.6 percent.
Kuwait medical team assists orphans, the poor in Cambodia
As part of its efforts in helping the needy around the world, a Kuwaiti medical team treated more than 700 cases of orphans and the poor inside the Kuwait Hospital in Cambodia as part of a charity trip organized by the Islamic Heritage Revival Society.
The volunteer medical team, consisting of seven doctors specializing in dentistry and surgery, namely Ahmad Al-Sharad, Anwar Al-Shammari, Faisal Al-Sulaili, Basees Al-Ajmi, Abdullah Al-Kandari, Ayoub Al-Kandari, and Abdulrahaab Al-Numas who worked to put smiles on the faces of the needy there.
They performed urgent surgeries like gum extraction, treatment, and fillings, among others. The Kuwait Hospital, which was opened in 2015, is the first charitable hospital in Cambodia and contains multiple medical specialties and departments. It works around the clock to treat needy orphans and the poor there. — KUNA
KRCS distributes food, relief aid in Lebanon
The Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) announced on Wednesday the latest phase of aid distribution to Lebanese people, displaced Syrians and Palestinians. Relief Coordinator at the Lebanese Red Cross Society, Yousif Boutros, told KUNA that the KRCS begun a new phase of distributing aid, consisting of 12,000 food rations, to Lebanese people, displaced Syrians and Palestinians.
Boutros added that the aid is to support displaced people in refugee camps in northern and southern Lebanon, as a result of the ongoing aggression with the Zionist occupation near the south since October. He noted that KRCS continues the process of distributing aid to Lebanese villages and towns in southern Lebanon, which started last year, in light of the difficult security conditions, as well as their bread distributing project for thousands of people in need for years.
Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has called for an urgent de-escalation in the Middle East over fears that the Gaza war could spread. “I am deeply worried about the rising risk of a wider conflict in the Middle East and plead with all parties, along with those states with influence, to act urgently to de-escalate what has become a very precarious situation,” said Turk in a statement.
Iran said it had the “legal right to punish” Zionists over last week’s killing of Palestinian armed group Hamas’ political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Zionist entity, which has not commented on the killing but did admit to carrying out a strike on Beirut that left Hezbollah military chief Fuad Shukr dead, has been fighting a war in Gaza since the October 7 attacks by Hamas. It is now exchanging daily cross-border fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The international community fears Iran, a backer of Hezbollah and Hamas, could join the conflict. “Already, over the past 10 months, civilians - mostly women and children - have endured unbearable pain and suffering as result of the bombs and guns,” said Turk. “Everything, and I mean everything, must be done to avoid this situation spiraling further into an abyss that will only have even more terrible consequences for civilians.” — Agencies
Kuwait Relief Society spends $18 million on humanitarian work in Gaza Strip
Kuwaiti leaders praised for their great impact on the speed of response
The Kuwait Relief Society announced that the total Kuwaiti aid to help those affected by the Zionist occupation attacks on the Gaza Strip since October 7th exceeded $18 million. In remarks to KUNA, the General Manager of the Association, Abdulaziz Al-Obaid, said that $18 million was collected through various campaigns over 300 days with the participation of more than 30 charitable societies.
He added that the association sought to spend this amount in some rapid response sectors, especially disasters, crises, and wars, including responding to urgent distress calls from our Palestinian brothers, most notably the food, medicine, and shelter sectors. Al-Obaid also noted that the total support provided through air flights, land convoys, sea ships, and medical relief flights that have been sent to the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the current aggression until now has exceeded 5 and a half tons of urgent and necessary humanitarian relief materials that the residents of the Strip need.
For his part, the head of the relief and projects sector at the association, Mahmoud Al-Misbah, affirmed that the Kuwait Relief Society and its partners from the Palestinian charitable societies operating in the Gaza Strip implemented relief projects that benefited about one million Palestinians. He stated that the Kuwait Relief Society has implemented dozens of public cleaning projects, garbage and rubble removal, wastewater disposal, support for hospitals with the necessary medical devices and equipment, and the provision of solar energy systems.
In turn, the Director of the Marketing and Public Relations Department at the Society, Ahmad Al-Nafais, expressed his pride in the high directives of the Kuwaiti political leadership and their great impact on the speed of response and providing the necessary and urgent support to the brothers in the Gaza Strip. He also praised the efforts of local partners from charitable societies operating inside Palestine and international partners from international relief and charitable institutions and the parties concerned with providing facilities for the entry of relief convoys and teams in Palestine, Egypt, and Jordan. — KUNA
Environment Public Authority keen on rehabilitating the environment
The Environment Public Authority (EPA) confirmed on Tuesday its keenness to rehabilitate the Kuwaiti environment by completing its Gulf projects for the cultivation of (Qurm) plants in cooperation with the Sultanate of Oman. Dr Abdullah Al-Zaidan, Deputy Director General for Technical Affairs at the Authority, said that on a recent visit to Oman, he met with the Director General of Nature Conservation at the Environment Agency of Oman, Sulaiman Al-Akhzmi, and expressed his “appreciation for their constant efforts to improve environmental conditions locally and in the Gulf.”
Al-Zaidan added that the visit came as a continuation of Gulf cooperation in environmental fields and the contribution of the Environment Agency of Oman in providing Kuwait with seeds of mangrove plants, which the Authority has succeeded in cultivating since 2018 through cooperation between the two sides. He explained that during the visit, Kuwait was provided with 2,000 seeds of mangrove plants, which were collected and provided by the Environment Agency of Oman during this season to be transported and cultivated in the Jahra Reserve.
They also visited the Qurm Reserve in Muscat and met the Head of the Wetland Environments Department, Bader Al-Busaidi. Qurm Reserve was declared a nature reserve in 1975 and is the first site registered in the Ramsar Wetland Convention, with a total area of 104.5775 hectares. Al-Zaidan pointed out that the Omani Qurm Reserve consists of natural forests in which there is one species of natural mangrove trees — the only Avicenna Marina that has the ability to adapt to the climatic situation of the environment there.
Namaa organizes a volunteer trip to Syrian refugees and Palestinian families in Jordan.
Namaa Charitable Center for Volunteer Work, in cooperation with the "Promising Volunteer" team, organized a volunteer trip aimed at supporting Syrian refugees in camps and needy Palestinian families in Jordan. This trip is part of the training program organized by Namaa Charitable Center for participants in the "Promising Volunteer" project. The trip is a practical part of the training program that allows young people in this age group to engage in humanitarian work by enhancing the values of volunteering, giving, participation, and social responsibility. The trip included volunteers between the ages of 14 and 17.
In this regard, Abeer Youssef Al-Hajras, the Director of Volunteer Work at Namaa Charitable Center in the Social Reform Association, said: The program started with a visit to the Kuwaiti Embassy in Jordan, where the Kuwaiti Ambassador warmly welcomed the Namaa Charitable delegation and the "Promising Volunteer" team. This visit confirms the role of official bodies, represented by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Affairs, in supporting charitable and humanitarian work and embodies their continuous commitment to enhancing human relations and assisting in alleviating the suffering of needy people.
Al-Hajras added that 200 food baskets were distributed to families in camps and shelters, and 100 outfits were provided to students with special needs, as well as assistance was provided to Palestinian families to meet their basic needs.
Al-Hajras affirmed Namaa Charitable Center's ongoing commitment to supporting needy communities and promoting volunteerism among youth. These trips aim to raise social awareness among students and motivate them to contribute to improving the conditions of weak communities.
Al-Hajras explained that Namaa Charitable Center for Volunteer Work aims to attract volunteers and organize volunteering efforts in various fields. The center aims to motivate youth to actively participate in volunteer work and provide opportunities for them to help the needy and contribute to building a supportive community.
Al-Hajras said: Volunteering is a fundamental pillar in building a conscious and cohesive society. At Namaa Charitable Center for Volunteer Work, we strive to motivate youth to participate in volunteer work and facilitate all matters for them by providing training, guidance, and necessary support. We believe that young people are the driving force for positive change, and we seek to attract them to participate in our various volunteer initiatives.
Participants in the trip expressed their happiness with the opportunity to participate in this humanitarian initiative, stating that the experience was inspiring and strengthened their sense of responsibility towards others.
The Kuwaiti civil society demands continued international pressure to stop the brutal aggression on Gaza
Kuwaiti civil society institutions issued a press statement on the occasion of the 300 days since the Zionist occupation's aggression on Gaza, stating:
For 300 days, the Zionist aggression continues its brutal extermination and torture of Palestinian prisoners in its jails and detention centers, especially the daily massacres against the people of Gaza; children, women, and elders, since last October 7th. The brutality has resulted in more than 39,500 martyrs, including 16,200 children and 10,900 women. The aggression continues to escalate this brutality and its colonial settler project, disregarding international systems and human rights institutions, and any principles of humanity! The incident of terrorism and silencing the voice advocating for justice, represented by the arrest of a preacher from Al-Aqsa Mosque, is another indication of the continuous brutality.
The destruction of all civilian infrastructure in Gaza, which has been under siege for years, continues at the hands of the military arsenal. Mosques, churches, and educational institutions have been targeted, with over 85% of schools and institutes being partially or completely damaged. Hospitals, shelters, water and sanitation networks are deliberately destroyed, and humanitarian aid is prevented from reaching those in need. This has worsened the crisis for hundreds of thousands of Gaza residents, leading to severe food insecurity, catastrophic health conditions, and the spread of infectious diseases.
Faced with these massacres and disasters, we call for and demand the following:
1- The international community, governments, international legal institutions, and Islamic organizations, especially the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to continue pressuring to stop this brutal aggression and to provide aid such as medicine and food as per the scale of these humanitarian disasters.
2- Arab, Islamic, and international medical institutions to launch successive and urgent medical campaigns to treat patients, transport critical cases outside of Gaza to medical facilities outside of Palestine for necessary medical care.
3- Kuwait's efforts in relief and medical campaigns, facilitating the reception of wounded and critically ill individuals from Gaza, to demonstrate humanitarian solidarity.
4- Intensifying and coordinating media efforts across all available channels to declare solidarity and support for the people of Gaza, countering the cheap media propaganda defending the crimes, massacres, and terrorism of the Zionists.
5- The initiative of all Kuwaiti popular institutions and civil gatherings is to carry out a series of events, projects, and continuous efforts, each according to its field and audience, to sustain solidarity, support, and advocacy for our people in Gaza and Palestine. We stand by them in Kuwait and will not forget them or disappoint them. May mercy be upon our righteous martyrs, relief be near for our steadfast prisoners, healing for our wounded, and freedom and victory for Gaza and Palestine.
NAMAA implemented the "Alms Bank" project in cooperation with the General Secretariat of Endowments
Through this project, NAMAA aimed to contribute to community development, meet various needs in different areas, and support various groups, in line with the conditions set by the endowers to activate the role of endowments in community development and meet the needs of the needy.
Waleed Al-Bassam, Director of Operations and Empowerment at NAMA Charitable Organization, stated that the Alms Bank project is one of the endowment projects that the General Secretariat of Endowments has been offering annually in Kuwait. It aims to achieve the United Nations' goal of eradicating poverty and providing good health to address living conditions within Kuwait, and work towards achieving social solidarity and compassion in Kuwaiti society, and establish partnerships between government and civil institutions to achieve humanitarian goals.
163 beneficiaries from needy families registered with NAMA benefited from the project, including 72 beneficiaries from the Zakat bank, 52 from the widows' bank, and 39 from the medical students' bank.
Al-Bassam added that NAMA aims, through this bank, to support needy families, alleviate financial burdens, support their life, health, and education needs, provide necessary solutions to improve living standards, help needy families within Kuwait, alleviate their burdens, meet their needs, and emphasize the importance of compassion and solidarity which the people of Kuwait are committed to in assisting and empowering the needy.
The targeted groups for this project are low-income earners, widows, divorcees, and families registered with NAMA Charitable Organization. This project is a translation of the noble directives to enhance charitable and humanitarian work and meet the needs of families internally, as a step towards regional and international expansion, confirming Kuwait's embrace of these initiatives as a confirmation of its continued approach to serving humanitarian causes around the world as a center for humanitarian work.
He further stated that NAMA continues to work towards achieving its strategic vision aimed at activating the role of social partnership with civil society institutions, government and private charitable institutions, indicating that coordination and cooperation between donors and implementers is necessary to achieve the best results in the best ways.
