Salman urges all-out support for orphans

Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman has urged businessmen and philanthropists to extend all-out support for projects aimed at enhancing the welfare of orphans in the country. Opening the first conference on the care of orphans, Prince Salman said the event was aimed at developing better programs for the care of children who have lost their fathers or both parents. The governor quoted some sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that highlighted the reward for those taking care of orphans. “I and the person who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in Paradise like this,” said the Prophet, while putting his index and middle fingers together. Prince Salman, who is chairman of the Charitable Society for the Care of Orphans (Insan) which organized the event, commended the government and charitable organizations for supporting orphans. He stressed that such care was essential not only to win the pleasure of God but also to protect these children from deviation and getting lost. “I hope the conference would discuss the experiences of other countries in taking care of orphans in order to help our charitable activities,” Prince Salman told the opening session. Saleh Bin-Humaid, president of the Supreme Judiciary Council, commended Insan for organizing a conference with the intent of developing services for orphans. “This conference aims at exchanging expertise and experiences within the Kingdom and other countries and promoting coordination among charitable organizations engaged in taking care of orphans,” he said. Social Affairs Minister Yousuf Al-Othaimeen spoke on the government’s efforts in taking care of orphans in various parts of the country.  “Islam has made the care of orphans a duty of Muslims,” he said. The conference will discuss 44 research papers presented by speakers from within the Kingdom and abroad. It includes eight workshops in addition to an exhibition highlighting the efforts of charitable societies in the Kingdom in caring for orphans.