Islamic Charity Authority Signs Partnership with Blind Association to Launch 'Capacity Building and Vocational Empowerment for Blind Women' Project

The Islamic World Relief Agency and the Kuwait Association for the Blind signed a partnership agreement, launching the “Capacity Building and Professional Empowerment of Blind Women” project at the Agency’s headquarters in the South Surra area. The event was attended by the Agency’s Director General, Eng. Badr Al-Samit, the Kuwait Association for the Blind’s Board Chairman, Faisal Al-Azmi, and other stakeholders.

The project targets 200 blind women and girls aged 18 and above, through a comprehensive 12-month training program focused on developing personal, life, and professional skills, boosting confidence in their capabilities, and preparing beneficiaries to seize opportunities in the labor market and society.

Eng. Badr Al-Samit, Director General of the Islamic World Relief Agency, stated that the Agency views empowering persons with disabilities as an integral part of its social responsibility and its strategy to enhance the local impact of charitable work. He noted that this project extends the Agency’s experience in economic empowerment and capacity building, which aims to transition beneficiaries from a state of need to one of capability and productivity.

Al-Samit emphasized that the Agency strives to strengthen the presence of persons with disabilities in its programs and activities, including the “Irada” voluntary team for persons with special needs and the “Human Building” initiative, which supports various social care groups. He highlighted that the Agency’s efforts to amplify its impact within Kuwait are reflected in several partnerships and initiatives targeting diverse community segments. Notable examples include collaboration with the Public Authority for Private Affairs and the “Human Building” initiative to implement high-quality rehabilitation programs supporting 600 beneficiaries, including orphans, persons with disabilities, the elderly, recovering addicts, and released inmates.

He added that, in cooperation with the General Secretariat of Waqf and the “Human Building” initiative, the Agency implemented a specialized program benefiting 200 persons with disabilities, including those with psychological, mental, motor, hearing, and visual impairments, as well as individuals with learning difficulties, autism, and related syndromes. The program focused on providing rehabilitative and therapeutic services to develop beneficiaries’ capacities and enhance their social participation.

Al-Samit also pointed to the launch and completion of the first Quranic competition for the blind, sponsored by Warba Bank and involving 45 participants. The event was organized and supervised by the “Irada” team for persons with disabilities, operating under the umbrella of the Islamic World Relief Agency. This team has also implemented several other specialized programs and initiatives benefiting various disability groups, including: distributing 55 “Al-Furqan” devices in Braille for blind Quran memorizers under the “Sponsorship of Quran Memorizers” project; providing 225 “Moko” devices in Braille to blind students in collaboration with the Ministry of Education; supplying 45 devices to deaf mothers to monitor their infants; distributing 25 wheelchairs for persons with motor disabilities; providing 155 vibrating devices to assist the deaf; distributing 40 smart canes for the blind; supplying 30 hearing aids for the hearing impaired; and issuing 50 magnetic cards to sponsor 50 needy families with disabilities. Additionally, seasonal projects such as the distribution of sacrificial animals and Ramadan food baskets were provided to these families.

He clarified that the Agency’s efforts in empowerment and social reintegration extend to other groups, citing the “Support Them” initiative, which included programs aimed at inmates and released prisoners to support their rehabilitation and prepare them for positive reintegration into society.

Al-Samit noted that the project is built on the Agency’s expertise in empowerment, including its microfinance program, which has financed approximately 62,707 projects since 1998, and the “Halal Livelihood” Fund for Productive Families of Orphans, which has funded around 877 projects in 12 countries since 2022.

For his part, Faisal Al-Azmi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Association for the Blind, said: “The Kuwait Association for the Blind appreciates this partnership with the Islamic World Relief Agency. We see this project as a practical step toward empowering blind women, enhancing their confidence in their abilities, and opening broader horizons for learning, work, and participation. We look forward to the program making a tangible impact on the lives of beneficiaries and serving as a model for fruitful cooperation among institutions in serving persons with disabilities.”