They were told to stay at home and begin remote learning like everyone else. But they had no laptops. How could they participate in their school’s online classes without computers?
This is the kind of dilemma underprivileged families insouth Jeddah are facing as Saudi Arabia is compelled to enforce lockdowns onpublic life to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
But help is at hand. Saudi women’s empowermentorganizations, both long-time established and recently formed, have risen tothe challenge with public-spirited initiatives.
“The families in south Jeddah were the first to be under the24-hour lockdown in Saudi Arabia because they live closely to each other in ahigh-risk area,” said Dania Al-Maeena, CEO of Aloula, a Saudi non-profitorganization.
“We collaborated with a volunteer group called Khadoum thatprovides distance learning. Hundreds of individuals across Saudi Arabiasupported the campaign, and over 15 companies donated laptops, food and gamesfor the children.”
Children of low-income families are able to continue remotelearning with the help of laptops given by Saudi women’s group Alnahda.
“Women are the caregivers, and so women are bearing thebrunt of the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Rasha Alturki, CEOof Riyadh-based Alnahda Society for Women, which has provided assistance since1962 to women who are at risk or belong to socioeconomically disadvantagedhouseholds.
This year, as part of Saudi Arabia’s G20 presidency, Alnahdawas entrusted by a royal decree with leading the W20, an official G20engagement group dedicated to women’s issues.
At the outset of the COVID-19 outbreak in Saudi Arabia,Aloula staged a campaign entitled “Alnass Libaed” (“People Are for EachOther”), said Al-Maeena.
“We placed a new target to help 800 families and 4,000beneficiaries, providing them with food baskets, including water, dates, cannedfoods and food donated by restaurants, as well as toys for children,” she toldArab News.
Established in 1962 by a group of women to support familiesin south Jeddah and registered with the Ministry of Labor and SocialDevelopment, Aloula’s founders have banded together for humanitarian workwhenever the need arises. The same kind of intervention is visible during the coronaviruspandemic.
The founders of Aloula “had no phones back then. They’d meetand decide how they’d best help the suffering,” said Al-Maeena.
This time, as the Kingdom confronts one of the biggestpublic-health challenges since its founding, Aloula has managed to help 4,000people and more than 1,000 families in need.
“Women are by nature caregivers, so this period of upheavaland distress has prompted women in Saudi Arabia to come together more than everto help those suffering,” said Honayda Serafi, a fashion designer who serves onthe board of the Saudi ADHD Society.
Serafi said she is providing meals for 100 families inLebanon during the coronavirus crisis. “We want to give a sense of hope andpositivity during this period to everyone in need,” she told Arab News.
The Saudi ADHD Society, chaired by Princess Nouf bintMohammed bin Abdullah Al-Saud, has tailored its ADHD (attention deficithyperactivity disorder) programs for online platforms in light of the currentsituation.
“We’ve provided close to 100 free online counselingsessions,” said Serafi, adding that the society has been receiving many callsfor help.
Alturki said all three activities in which Alnahdaspecializes — grassroots assistance, research and fieldwork, and advocacy — arekey to understanding how the situation is affecting women.
In addition, the organization has overseen the distributionof more than 600 laptops among children in need, and connected women in need ofmasks, sanitizers and financial assistance with charities.
In Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia, social services of a similarnature are being provided by Fatat Alkhaleej, a charity founded in 1968.
“We’ve sourced and distributed protective baskets amongbeneficiaries of our programs,” said Ebtisam Abdullah Al-Jubair, CEO of Fatat Alkhaleej.”We’re also transferring SR200 ($53.19) to 173 families as part ourorphan-sponsorship program.”
She said Fatat Alkhaleej is handing out food baskets to1,000 families daily and providing online services.