Kuwaiti aid builds new humanitarian bridges from Malaysia to Uganda, Sudan

KUWAIT: Kuwaiti humanitarian aid extends beyond borders, carrying diverse forms of humanitarian work from supporting charitable and humanitarian institutions and initiatives in Malaysia to advancing education in Uganda and assisting Sudanese refugees seeking to return home, reflecting the diversity of Kuwait’s charitable efforts and the breadth of their impact.

Kuwaiti humanitarian initiatives this week highlight a shift from responding to immediate needs toward building more sustainable pathways that combine empowering people through knowledge, easing the burdens of displacement and strengthening humanitarian partnerships, giving beneficiaries broader opportunities to regain stability and build a better future.

Moving beyond the boundaries of relief projects to establish bridges of cooperation between institutions and communities, Kuwaiti entities have continued their activities abroad, drawing on a well-established humanitarian legacy that has made giving an enduring mission whose fields may vary but whose objectives converge on preserving human dignity and improving living conditions.In Malaysia, Kuwait’s humanitarian role was recognized by 15 charitable and humanitarian organizations in appreciation of the State of Kuwait’s contribution to leading and supporting humanitarian initiatives and its backing of relief and humanitarian efforts in the country, reflecting the standing Kuwait has earned through its extensive charitable projects and partnerships.

Kuwait’s Ambassador to Malaysia Rashed Al-Saleh told KUNA after receiving a shield bearing the slogan “A Touch of Loyalty” that humanitarian work represents a firmly established approach for Kuwait at both official and popular levels. Kuwaiti initiatives and projects in Malaysia and around the world, he added, are an extension of a long-standing tradition of giving and helping those in need.

Al-Saleh said Kuwait’s longstanding presence in humanitarian and charitable fields comes with the support of the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and reflects the political leadership’s continued interest in Kuwaiti humanitarian initiatives at home and abroad.He underscored the importance of continuing cooperation with humanitarian institutions and associations and strengthening the values of solidarity in ways that broaden the scope of humanitarian work and benefit recipients, expressing appreciation for the sentiments of loyalty and recognition conveyed by the honor in recognition of Kuwait and its humanitarian efforts.

The honoring ceremony was organized by the Malaysian International Organization for Education, Science and Culture (ISCO) and Insan Relief and Development Association, with the participation of humanitarian and charitable institutions and associations operating in Malaysia.

It included honoring and bidding farewell to Ambassador Al-Saleh on the occasion of the end of his diplomatic tenure in the country.Kuwaiti entities, meanwhile, are working with Malaysian institutions to implement humanitarian, educational, relief and development projects for vulnerable groups.In a track placing education and modern technology at the heart of sustainable development, the International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) has taken another step in developing its educational institutions after Al-Laheeb Primary School, affiliated with Al-Laheeb Social Care Center in Uganda, was officially accredited under the global Canva for Education program, which seeks to expand the use of digital tools in education.

IICO Deputy Director General for Projects Ibrahim Al-Bader told KUNA that the accreditation represents another achievement in the development of the organization’s educational institutions and reflects its commitment to promoting digital transformation and improving the quality of education.

The program allows the school to benefit from a wide range of digital tools and resources enabling teachers to prepare interactive educational content and design presentations, worksheets and visual materials, while providing an environment that encourages students to be creative, participate and work collectively, Al-Bader noted.He said Al-Laheeb Primary School, established in 2005, has about 271 male and female students and around 50 teachers, employees and workers. It has a capacity of about 400 students and offers the government curriculum in English and the Islamic curriculum in Arabic.

Investing in digital education and innovation is an important component of the IICO’s efforts to equip teachers and students with modern knowledge tools and develop their skills, contributing to building generations better able to innovate and meet future requirements, he affirmed.

On another front of the humanitarian scene, Kuwait-based Direct Aid Association is preparing to implement a project for the voluntary return of Sudanese refugees from Uganda under the supervision of the Embassy of Kuwait in Sudan and in coordination with the Sudanese and Ugandan authorities.

The first phase of the project aims to facilitate the return of 2,000 refugees at a cost of KD 300,000, in an initiative combining safe return, family reunification and support for recovery and stability efforts.Director of Direct Aid Association’s office in Uganda Noor Al-Huda Al-Ajab told KUNA that the initiative came in response to the growing humanitarian needs of refugees, coinciding with the desire of large numbers of them to return to Sudan amid a gradual improvement in security and services in a number of states and cities.

The project seeks to provide a safe and dignified return for beneficiaries and reunite families separated by war and displacement, enabling those wishing to return to their relatives and safe areas, Al-Ajab explained. Beneficiaries include elderly people, patients, women, children, and university and school students seeking to resume their education.Registration and documentation procedures are continuing in coordination with the relevant authorities.

The project covers travel expenses, logistical arrangements, travel document issuance and coordination between the competent authorities in Sudan and Uganda to operate direct flights to Khartoum as part of the program, which will be implemented during August and September.

Al-Ajab expressed appreciation to Kuwait’s philanthropists for supporting the project, stressing that the initiative embodies the values of solidarity and cooperation for which Kuwaiti society is known and reflects the keenness of its charitable institutions and benefactors to support the Sudanese people and alleviate the suffering of refugees and those affected by the war.

Together, these initiatives highlight the multifaceted nature of Kuwaiti charitable work, which does not stop at providing assistance but extends to creating opportunities, promoting knowledge, reconnecting families with their communities and building humanitarian partnerships whose impact goes beyond the duration of a project.

From education in Uganda to the journey of return to Sudan and the bridges of humanitarian cooperation in Malaysia, Kuwait’s imprint in the fields of giving continues to grow, carrying a message that the value of humanitarian work is measured not only by the amount provided but also by the stability, hope and ability to begin a safer and more sustainable life that it leaves behind. — KUNA