“Humanitarian Work”... A Kuwaiti Message Passed Down Through Generations

Kuwaiti charitable sector officials affirmed that humanitarian work represents a deeply rooted value in Kuwaiti society, serving as a message that transcends borders and is passed down through generations. They emphasized the importance of developing charitable efforts and strengthening partnerships and coordination among humanitarian institutions to help respond to growing needs and achieve sustainable impact, while calling for the protection of humanitarian workers to ensure the continuity of life-saving services.

For his part, Saad Al-Otaibi, President of the Federation of Charitable Societies and Orphanages, stated in a comment marking World Humanitarian Day, observed annually on August 19, that serving humanity is an authentic value in Kuwaiti society and that charitable work has become one of the most prominent bridges reflecting Kuwait’s humanitarian message to the world.

Al-Otaibi added that Kuwaiti charitable institutions, through institutionalized work and integration among themselves, have provided a distinguished model in managing humanitarian initiatives and responding to crises and disasters with efficiency and responsibility. He noted that the Kuwaiti charitable sector has accumulated extensive expertise over decades.

He pointed out that the growing humanitarian challenges around the world require increased cooperation and coordination among humanitarian institutions, and that work should be conducted according to sustainable development plans that go beyond immediate response to address the root causes of needs and provide long-term solutions that help communities overcome difficult circumstances.

He highlighted the importance of continuing to support charitable institutions and empowering them to fulfill their mission, while promoting the culture of volunteering and giving as two fundamental pillars of humanitarian work. He stressed that humanitarian work is a message inherited by generations, reflecting the values of solidarity and compassion for which Kuwaiti society is known.

For his part, Abdulaziz Al-Kandari, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Namaa Charity under the Al-Isalah Social Association, stated that humanitarian work is witnessing rapid evolution in its tools and methods, increasingly relying on planning, partnerships, and sustainability alongside swift response to humanitarian needs.

Al-Kandari added that Namaa Charity implements flagship programs and projects in the fields of water, food security, health, education, orphan sponsorship, and community development, guided by a vision that considers investing in human capital the true path to building societies and achieving sustainable development.

He clarified that humanitarian work should not be limited to providing immediate aid but must include projects that contribute to empowering beneficiaries, improving their quality of life, and helping them transition from a state of need to stability and self-reliance.

He noted that successive humanitarian crises underscore the importance of institutionalized charitable work and enhanced cooperation among various institutions and entities, contributing to unified efforts, reaching the largest possible number of beneficiaries, and achieving a deeper and more sustainable humanitarian impact.

For his part, Hamad Al-Ali, Secretary-General of the Al-Isalah Social Association, affirmed that humanitarian work constitutes one of the fundamental pillars upon which the Association’s mission has been built since its establishment. He explained that the Association has strived to combine da’wah (religious outreach), social, and humanitarian work, driven by the belief that serving humanity and caring for its needs is a religious, national, and societal responsibility.

Al-Ali clarified that genuine humanitarian work does not stop at providing aid; rather, it extends to building human capacity, empowering families, enhancing social stability, and finding developmental solutions that contribute to improving quality of life while preserving the dignity and self-reliance of beneficiaries.

He added that the success of humanitarian work is not measured solely by the scale of projects, but by the impact they have on people’s lives, their ability to restore hope, drive positive change, and reinforce values of solidarity and compassion within and beyond the community.

Charity sector officials unanimously emphasized in their message the importance of protecting humanitarian workers who carry out their duties in crisis and conflict zones, stressing that their safety is a fundamental component of ensuring that aid reaches its intended beneficiaries.

They noted that safeguarding humanitarian personnel is a top priority for sustaining life-saving services, pointing out that any attacks on them or obstruction of their work directly undermines the capacity of affected communities to access food, healthcare, water, and protection services. They underscored the importance of enhancing humanitarian tools, improving the capacity of staff and volunteers, strengthening partnerships, and leveraging modern technologies to identify needs, reach beneficiaries, and measure the impact of projects.