Fostering charity culture in Kuwait

Need to make easier means to facilitate, up donations

Charity has been part of the Kuwaiti culture since the early beginning of this society more than 300 years ago.Historically merchants supported the society by building schools, paying for teachers, promoting sports clubs and newspapers and magazines.Whereas in the existing times, charity became more religiously centered and generally known to be away from the civil society activities in some cases and its willingness to contribute for those who are in need, no matter their religion, origin, sex or background.We need to make easier means to facilitate and increase donation to people in need, such as the patients with serious illnesses like heart problems or cancer, the elderly people with lack of means for protection, sick, deserted children, people with disability and low paid workers, etc.Philanthropic undertakings should include nationals, foreigners and expatriates in need and foreign organizations should be allowed to contribute if they are willing to participate in, as the expatriate community still are integral part of the society and they share its highs and lows.There should be sufficient legal guarantee and strong institutional support to increase donations from the non-profit organizations and with no terrorism background or fear.However, impose strict measures in the collection, such as stipulation to payments only through K-net and a close watch on the utilization of the funds, by the concerned authorities to prevent doubtful situation of charity, as we need by all means to increase the responsible charity education and the culture of sharing.The charity concerns everybody and not only the rich or the government. Somebody thinking the charity should be only within the country and someone thinking it is not good for the business. In reality we need to uphold the charity as a social responsibility of the companies and the society’s core values, where it should be part of the public awareness of the need of living together in peace and prosperity.

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