No Home Activities for Welfare Societies
A sudden and unbelievable decision bans welfare activities in private homes. This could have far reaching effects – are not most welfare activities taking place in Kuwait privately organized and funded? I have been to so many private fund raisers for charities I support – bazaars, game nights, line dancing classes – almost all in private homes. I suspect this is legislation that means well, but discourages people from reaching out to meet needs not met by the city or state.
Welfare societies banned from organizing activities in private homes
Al Watan staff
KUWAIT: Welfare and charitable societies are facing a new challenge after the Municipality has decided to suspend any such activities from taking place in private homes.
The Municipality has sent 62 official letters to the Ministry of Water and Electricity demanding that power be cut off to certain buildings in Jabriya and Salmiya after these private residencies were found to have been involved in activities of welfare societies. Undersecretary at the Ministry of Water and Electricity Yusuf AlـHajiri confirmed in a statement to Al Watan that the ministry will disconnect the electricity from properties involved in violations of housing regulations.
Representatives from a number of welfare societies and charitable organizations expressed their bewilderment at this decision and said that all their activities are licensed and were often inaugurated under government sponsorship. They added that many people will suffer from what they described as a “hasty decision.”
The decision to ban activities in private homes came directly from the Municipality General Manager Ahmad AlـSubaih who on Tuesday gave formal instructions to suspend all such activities on grounds that they violate private home regulations.
Local Municipal Councils are now able to issue violations and communicate directly with the Ministry of Water and Electricity to disconnect the power of any property which is found to be violating the terms and condition of housing tenancy.
Welfare societies and charitable organizations have already sent an official letter to the Cabinet requesting that they be allowed to expand their charitable activities and receive donations in cash to facilitate their work.
Last updated on Friday 21/11/2008
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Give it a few days/weeks and it will be reversed.
The people behind this just needed something to do.
LOL, you really are a cynic, 3AM
I wonder how this decision will affect other charities or not for profit societies in Kuwait? Aren’t there churches meeting in homes? What about the BLS? If the ladies there happened to take a collection for say…Operation Hope, does that mean they will risk having their power cut off?
I sure hope 3AM is right and the decision is reversed when these people find themselves at loose ends. Sheesh!
Could it be a side effect of the tariq rajab museum episode that this decision was made ????
Daisy Mae – Good points. This seems to me to be a hasty and ill-thought-out decision.
Daggero – Who knows? It seems hasty and arbitrary to me, and counterproductive. Most of the home-based charities I know seem to be focused on helping the poor or pitiful animals, it’s not like there is a lot of competition. . .