Saudi Gazette report AL-KHOBAR — A businesswoman has financed the construction of a massive orphanage for girls here, Al-Riyadh newspaper reported. The orphan girls, who were previously housed in a deteriorating social home, have moved into the modern, well-equipped building with an educational and cultural center built at a cost of SR21 million. Businesswoman Ayshah Al-Rashed provided the funds. Al-Rashed's exceptional initiative has sparked a debate on the role businesspeople can play in charity work. Madhawi Al-Hassoon, a member of the Council of Saudi Chambers, said charities in the past depended on rabats or shelter homes built by philanthropists to house the poor. “Anyone can donate to a rabat in cash or kind. For the most part, businesspeople are absent from charitable work despite the fact that we live in an Islamic society,” Al-Hassoon said, adding that the Ministry of Social Affairs should develop new charitable initiatives. “It should not only be confined to providing a living for poor families. Charitable initiatives should also include education and health. For example, the Ministry of Social Affairs should study poor families' cases and nominate one individual from each family for a scholarship, which philanthropists can sponsor,” she added. Al-Hassoon said many businessmen and women are often reluctant to participate in charitable initiatives due to many obstacles and lengthy procedures. “They end up resorting to the most convenient method, which is donating money to charitable organizations. In order to finance more projects that serve the needy, there needs to be better coordination between the Ministry of Social Affairs and philanthropists,” she said.
