Dr. Alnamla Gives a Speech at SEU About the Culture of Volunteering

The Intellectual Awareness Unit hosted a seminar by His Excellency Dr. Ali Bin Ibrahim Al-Namlah, the former minister of Social Affairs, entitled “The Culture of Volunteering in Light of Vision 2030", with the attendance of the University Rector Designate, Prof. Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdul Aziz Al-Moaqil, Vice-Rectors, college deans, a number of faculty members, students and employees. It was held in the main hall at the University headquarters in Riyadh for male students, and in the University theater in the University female departments for female students. The seminar was broadcasted online via YouTube for those students from different departments who are wishing to watch it. Dr. Alnamla talked about volunteering, emphasizing its importance.and harmony with the culture of society, which is based on the teachings of Islam. He referred that It also contributes in the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which emphasizes the interest in voluntary work. Furthermore, he clarified that voluntary work is not a matter of personal gain, social prestige, complement or fame. Besides, it goes beyond exerting voluntary physical effort, but it also includes mental effort through giving advice and consultation. In addition, it is not limited to free of charge work, but it is sometimes acceptable to gain symbolic rewards in return for the voluntary services. He added that volunteering is a social activity associated mostly with the targeted public. So, volunteers need to have distinguished personality traits and a calm psychological state to contain the people of different characters and natures. He also said that any voluntary work must have two things: devotion and doing the right thing. He stressed that we need to create (a system for voluntary work) to control this important activity without being restricted or misused, rather to reflect the state sovereignty over its territories. This should be done with the aim to confront any tendentious attempts by our enemies who aim to misuse this noble value. The Intellectual Awareness Unit aims at spreading the concept and culture of voluntary work by demonstrating its importance in the development of society and social cohesion, which contributes to the achievement the objectives of Vision 2030.​