Minister Al-Huwailah launches initiative to connect the young and the elderly

• In her speech during the Social Care Sector’s celebration of Arab Day for the Elderly, which included the opening of the “Al-Firdaws Diwaniya for the Elderly,” Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah stated, “The ‘Gathering of the Family’ initiative is not just a social event; it is a project aimed at building lasting human ties between generations.”

In a step to enhance social cohesion between generations, Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah, the Minister of Social Affairs, Family, and Childhood Affairs, announced the launch of the “Gathering of the Family” initiative. This initiative reflects the ministry’s vision of improving communication between the elderly and orphaned children, the Al Jaridanewspaper reported.

In her speech during the Social Care Sector’s celebration of Arab Day for the Elderly, which included the opening of the “Al-Firdaws Diwaniya for the Elderly,” Al-Huwailah stated, “This initiative is not just a social event; it is a project aimed at building lasting human ties between generations. The elderly are given the opportunity to share their wisdom and experience with orphaned children, while these children gain the sense of family warmth they lack.”

Enhancing social solidarity

Al-Huwailah added that this initiative represents a step towards enhancing social solidarity, as both the elderly and orphaned children need communication and care. The “family gathering” is not just a social event but an opportunity to revive family and community ties. She stressed that this interaction between generations will create an environment rich in love and care, enhancing the values of compassion and belonging in society.

She expressed her gratitude to the Islamic Heritage Revival Society for its support and fruitful cooperation in opening the “Senior People’s Diwaniya,” noting that this community partnership contributes to improving the quality of life for the elderly by providing social spaces that allow them to participate actively in community life.

For his part, Dr. Khaled Al-Ajmi, Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs, emphasized that Kuwait leads the region in providing care for the elderly, stating that caring for them is not only a social duty but also a trust that Kuwait is committed to fulfilling with the highest quality standards.

Al-Ajmi added that “community partnership plays a pivotal role in enhancing this care, as civil society organizations and institutions work side by side with government agencies to support this group that has given the country its most precious possessions.”

Contributions of community institutions praised

He praised the contributions of community institutions, which are the cornerstone of the success of all initiatives aimed at supporting the elderly and enhancing their status in society.

In turn, Dr. Jassim Al-Kandari, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Social Care, reviewed some figures reflecting the volume of services provided to the elderly in Kuwait. He explained that more than 3,897 elderly people benefited from the mobile service, while 35,232 received a “priority” card that grants them priority access to various services.

6,446 elderly people benefited from designated parking spaces

Al-Kandari added that “6,446 elderly people benefited from designated parking spaces, which reflects the ministry’s commitment to providing an appropriate environment for caring for this group.”

He expressed his thanks and appreciation to minister Al-Huwailah and Undersecretary Dr. Khaled Al-Ajmi for their continuous support of the social care sector. He also praised the contribution of “Ihya Al-Turath” in opening the “Senior People’s Diwaniya,” considering that this community partnership enhances the ministry’s ability to provide comprehensive and integrated services to the elderly.