Volunteering in Kuwait

Here is a well collected list of places you can volunteer in Kuwait prepared by Desert Girl

Volunteering in Kuwait

As an expat in Kuwait, you may occasionally find yourself with free time on your hands. Your spouse and children might need something to do as well. Like being in your home country, there are many people in your local community who could use your assistance.

Volunteerism in Kuwait isn’t terribly different from what we are used to. There are still special needs, elderly, animal rights, and environmental groups. If you worry about a language barrier, when it comes down to compassion, no one really cares what language you speak. You will find that you will get your point across one way or another; and perhaps learn more about the local culture than you thought.

The listings below (in alphabetical order) represent ways in which you can help your local community. Remember that if you are too busy to donate your time, you can always donate resources.

Abeer2. Abeer2 is part of the Kuwait Voluntary Work Center (KVWC) (see below). It is a volunteer program in assistance of children with special needs in Kuwait. The program includes various activities: After school program, summer camp, life skills training, horseback riding, field trips, sports, workforce training. For additional information, contact: Phone/fax: 25382802, phone: 7400062, 7550443, http://www.abeer2.com/ or see their sub-page on the KVWC site listed below.

Al Kharafi Activity Kids Center. The center was developed to help special needs children play with their peers within a safe and enjoyable environment whilst developing their physical, emotional, social, and verbal abilities. We concentrate on training the children to deal with each other and communicate in a nurturing non-discriminatory environment. Volunteers play a vital role in running the center. For information visit http://www.kharafi-akc.org.kw/

Animal Friends League (AFL). “We strive to improve the quality of animals' lives in Kuwait by rescuing animals and providing them with shelter, food and medical attention; educating people about the basic needs and proper treatment and care of animals. We also encourage spaying and neutering to control the animal overpopulation. The need of animals in Kuwait has never been greater. Once cherished family members, pets can now be found in alarming numbers wandering the streets in a pitiful condition. A number of people discovered this need and realized that something had to be done; thus, Animal Friends League of Kuwait was born.” For more information visit http://www.animalfriendskuwait.org/

Bayt Abdullah Children’s Hospice. A hospice is a program or facility that provides special care for people who are near the end of life and for their families. Volunteers make a difference in a child's life in hospital, bringing about a sense of normality, care, and fun. Throughout the years volunteers have unselfishly given their time by contributing in many different ways, helping provide children in hospital with a friendly positive atmosphere. Whether it is by playing with the children in hospital, decorating the pediatric wards to promote a child friendly environment, helping in the office or at fundraising events, volunteers play a significant role in supporting KACCH in its aims and goals. For information on how to volunteer, visit http://www.kacch.org/ or phone 2246-4723.


Down Syndrome Center. Phone 24821541 or 24824542. Fax: 24821540. Website http://wwww.q8ds.com/
Indian Women’s Association. The Indian Women’s Association IWA is pleased to announce the start of its ‘Spread a Special Smile’ project. The project seeks to provide students with the opportunity to become involved as volunteers, in a summer project during June till August, spending time with the Special Needs Children of the Kuwait Society for the Handicapped. The goal of this project besides the enriching and positive experience of ‘Spread a Special Smile’ will help students explore their feelings, examine their values, discover their own special individuality and promote awareness and understanding of special needs children. Contact the IWA at kuwait@hotmail.com (Note that the IWA coordinates other volunteer projects throughout the year.)

Kuwait Association for the Care of Children in Hospital. (See “Bayt Abdullah” above.) Kuwait Association for the Care of Children in Hospital (KACCH) is a non-governmental charitable organization registered with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor in 2003. It was founded informally in 1989 to help children and their families cope with the stresses of hospitalization. It is managed by volunteers and funded by donations from organizations, businesses, banks, schools and individuals within Kuwait. Volunteer to play with / read to children in hospitals through http://www.kacch.org/

Kuwait Blind Association. Volunteer to accompany the blind on trips and read to them by calling 25654105 / 25654160 / 25622245 / 25622300 in Maidan Hawalli.

Kuwait Center for Autism. Phone: 22540351 or 22540179. Fax: 22540247. Website: http://www.q8autism.com/

Kuwait Dive Team. The Kuwait Dive Team volunteers regularly tackle marine projects in Kuwait including freeing trapped turtles, installing boat mooring buoys away from coral reefs, adding to the coral environment, salvaging sunken boats, fishing nets, debris and waste. If you would like to volunteer your diving skills in assistance of these endeavors (or provide resources), Visit http://www.freekuwait.org/ or http://www.kdt.ksclub.org/, Phone: 24826777

Kuwait Orphanage. (Department of Family Nursery), Ministry of Social Affairs & Labor. The orphanage is located at the UN roundabout in Sulaybikhat. Director: Dr. Fahad Al-Wardan. Phone: 24878949. Fax: 2487-9636

Kuwait Red Crescent Society. The Red Crescent is a volunteer organization which helps those in need in times of disaster. Membership to the Kuwait Red Crescent Society is open to all persons supporting its objectives and principles without discrimination. Its activities are spread through the following committees: Relief Committee, Social Committee, Info - cultural Committee, Public Relations & Income Generating, International Affairs Bureau, Emergency Committee, Training and First Aid Program, Youth Group Office, " BALSAM " Project, Prison office, Search for Missing Persons, Membership. For information on how to volunteer, visit http://www.krcs.net/.

Kuwait Sea Turtle Rescue Network. Volunteer to rescue/care for sea turtles by calling 2656 6623/4/5. E-mail: kuwaitturtles@hotmail.com
Kuwait Society for the Handicapped. http://www.kshkw.com/. handicapped@kshkw.com. Phone: 22632343 or 22631277. Fax: 22642630

LOYAC (Lothan Youth Achievement Center) LoYAC is a non-profit organization working towards the overall development of youth in Kuwait. K4K (Kuwait for Kenya) is a project of volunteers will fundraise, promote, and volunteer in order to assist the Youth Counseling Center in Mombassa, Kenya to continue to provide and develop its services and programs to the child/youth community. K4K is a divisional project under the K4W (Kuwait for the World) initiative. In addition to volunteer programs, LOYAC places young Kuwaiti interns through summer programs. Your company may be able to assist. Visit http://www.loyac.org/contact.htm

Operation Hope.
Operation Hope is a mission that seeks to Help Others Practically & Evangelically by providing gifts of coats, hats, scarves, gloves, and socks for those less fortunate during the colder season in Kuwait & to share the love of Christ by serving them as He called us to do.
Operation Hope is a non-profit, non-political organization operating in the State of Kuwait. Founded in 2005 by Sheryll Mairza, Operation Hope relies on volunteers and donors to fulfill its mission.http://www.operationhopekuwait.com/.

Protecting Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). PAWS strives to provide assistance to homeless, neglected and abandoned animals by providing veterinary care, rescue and adoption services, to animals in Kuwait in partnership with their rescuers. You can assist Kuwait’s rescued pets in many ways. You can donate your time. Even a hour or two each week or month would help provide comfort to sheltered pets. If you can’t donate time you can help us with donations of money, food or supplies. For information on how to volunteer, visit http://www.paws-kuwait.org/index.php?vol.

Kuwait Voluntary Work Centre (KVWC). The KVWC is Chaired by Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The KVWC works on various volunteer projects including work with children with special needs, protection of the environment (desert and sea – including desert/sea clean-up activities). The group is often in the local media working with His Highness the Emir on environmental protection activities. (Arabic website – Google translator) http://www.kuwaitvolunteers.com/. Phone: 24750746 2فاكس:4768443 Fax: 24768443. البريد الالكتروني:info@kuwaitvolunteers.com E-mail: info@kuwaitvolunteers.com

The Ultimate Volunteer: Become an Organ Donor
God forbid, but accidents do happen everywhere. Consider becoming an organ donor in Kuwait by contacting the Kuwait Transplant Society and requesting an organ donor card. Phone 22520147, 22520230, Fax: 22560751.