The Ministry of Social Affairs and the Social Affairs Office in Makkah Region marked last Saturday as the Arabian Orphan's Day. However, their celebrations spanned several days this week and the next. “This event is held in all the Arab countries as part of what had been decided at the 26th Ministerial Council of the Social Affairs Ministers of Arab countries,” said Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, public relations manager at the Saudi Ministry of Social Affairs. Celebrations in Jeddah included taking hundreds of orphaned children to entertainment facilities and bringing together orphans and the Saudi families. “We prepare daily visits to several entertainment sites in Jeddah,” said Amani Al-Jahdali, a psychologist at Dar Al-Tarbiya for orphans in Jeddah. Jahdali added that each orphanage holds its own festival, to which orphans from other organizations are invited. “We are going to hold a party on Thursday (tomorrow), where we have invited all charities to join us. This event will host the orphan boys and girls aged from 6 to 14.” “The major aim behind such events is to bring together the children, helping them to merge with the society, as well as telling the society about its role towards them.” said Awad Al-Radadi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs. He added that all social affairs offices throughout the Kingdom would be involved in these events. Radadi said every orphan receives a monthly payment suitable for his or her school grade, ranging from SR200 to SR1,200. He added that each family raising an orphan younger than seven and not yet in school receives around SR2,000. It would get SR3000 for an orphan studying in schools. Meanwhile, the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Association for Charity in Madina has started its health, social, and upbringing project that includes more than 3,000 orphans. “Our organization takes care of orphans from both an educational and professional standpoint,” said Abdulmohsen Al-Harbi, head of the organization's branch in Madina. “We have a special program to educate and rehabilitate orphans through schools, initiations and social and health care we provide.” – Saudi Gazette reporter Jassim Alghamdi contributed to this report. __
