Kuwait expands inmate support with 12 new projects under ‘Sandhom’ initiative

Brigadier-General Fahd Al-Obaid, Director General of Correctional Institutions at the Ministry of Interior, has announced the completion of the first phase of the ‘Sandhom’ initiative, which aims to support inmates through developmental and rehabilitative projects.

The first phase saw the completion of more than 10 construction and operational projects, with inmates now being trained and integrated into those programs. The second phase will include 12 additional projects, pushing the total under the initiative to over 40.

Brigadier Al-Obaid made these remarks during an inspection tour of the Central Prison accompanied by members and representatives from the Union of Charitable Societies, who were reviewing project sites identified for the second and third phases of the initiative. He noted that the purpose is to localize charitable efforts by encouraging organizations to adopt and implement specific development projects within correctional institutions.

He explained that the Federation of Charitable Societies and Endowments conducted a detailed field visit to assess multiple project sites and prepare executive studies. Each charity will be assigned a project based on their capabilities and interest. “Charities have shown great enthusiasm, and they compete to do good and implement volunteer efforts,” Al-Obaid stated, praising their ongoing cooperation with the Ministry of Interior.

Speaking on behalf of the charity sector, Saad Marzouq Al-Otaibi, Chairman of the Federation, said the Sandhom initiative is a national partnership between state institutions, charities, and the private sector.

He emphasized the critical role of the initiative in reforming inmates and helping them reintegrate into society positively, stressing that charitable organizations have consistently supported national efforts, especially during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Al-Otaibi pointed out that 38% of charitable work in Kuwait is directed locally, based on joint statistics with the Ministry of Social Affairs. This, he said, demonstrates the sector’s strong commitment to domestic development efforts, fully coordinated under proper legal and regulatory frameworks.

Bader Al-Sumait, Director of the International Islamic Charitable Organization, praised the initiative as a pioneering national effort under the patronage of the National Bureau for Human Rights, affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He emphasized the social responsibility of charitable organizations in supporting underserved groups, including inmates, through coordinated development projects.

From the Social Reform Society, Walid Al-Bassam, Head of Projects at Namaa Charity, thanked the Ministry of Interior for enabling charities to contribute to building facilities inside the Central Prison. He confirmed that Namaa Charity had completed four buildings during the first phase and would sponsor several more projects in the coming phases.

The 12 new projects for the central prison include – multi-purpose cultural and theatrical hall (500-person capacity); youth classrooms for 200 inmates; women’s classrooms for 70 female inmates; two nursery classrooms for children; rehabilitation treatment hall; central kitchen; general prison hospital; agricultural nursery; women’s salon; three laundry facilities (public, central, women’s); new central grille and fire station for the prison complex.