Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation-Global (Registered in Lebanon) chaired by HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud and vice chaired by HH Princess Ameerah Al–Taweel, donated $55,360 to the Maldivian Thalassemia Society, Maldives. Eng Nadia Bakhurji is the Secretary General of Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation.

The Alwaleed Foundation’s grant was for the Capacity Building with the Maldivian Thalassaemia Society project “Prevention and Improved Management of Thalassaemia”. The society came into existence in the year 1994 with the sole purpose of improving and enhancing the quality of lives of Thalassemic in the Maldives. With the simple vision of enhancing the quality of life, its mission was to become the much needed support system for the Thalassemic children and their parents. Some of the programs run by the society include; supporting the families of Thalassemia through provision of filters and pumps, financial aid for bone marrow transplant, empowering families of Thalassemia and the public through provision of information and awareness via seminars, meetings, workshops, organizing fund raising activities and organizing social events for Thalassemics.

In 2010, Prince Alwaleed received at his office in Riyadh, HE Dr. Aminath Jameel, Maldivian Minister of Health. The two discussed general issues related to their respective countries. During the meeting, Dr. Jameel said one of her main reason for visiting Saudi Arabia was to gain knowledge that would assist her in developing the health system in her country. The Prince and the Minister also discussed the efforts of Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation.

HRH’s philanthropic grants and donations over 70 countries ranging from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe; from Gaza to The Gambia, totaling more than $2.4 billion over the last 30 years. HRH has established three Foundations to handle his philanthropic activities across the globe under the slogan “Commitment Without Boundaries”: Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation in Saudi Arabia, Alwaleed Bin Talal Humanitarian Foundation in Lebanon, and Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation-Global registered in Lebanon. His foundations work locally, regionally and internationally to combat poverty, strengthen interfaith and intercultural dialogue and empower women and youth.

Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation – Global works to provide women and youth in the MENA region with economic and educational opportunities, through strategic philanthropic investments in sustainable projects of the Foundation’s various partner organizations. It tackles poverty and provides rapid aid in cases of natural disasters internationally. The foundation also reframes perceptions of Islam and the West through dialogue, programs and educational centers around the world in order to promote a greater understanding between the different faiths and world views.

Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation encourages and supports organizations, studies, and academic centers focusing on empowering Saudi women, alleviating poverty, upgrading services provided to the population, enhancement of social infrastructures in the country. The foundation is also directly involved in major projects that provide direct aid to the citizens of Saudi Arabia ranging from medical aid to housing where hundreds of housing units have been provided to poor families as part of a 10 year project. Other projects the foundation is involved in include the distribution of electric generators to remote villages and, printing and the translation of the holy Quran into13 languages.

The “Alwaleed Bin Talal Humanitarian Foundation”, is vice chaired H.E. Ms. Leila El Solh covers all the Lebanese humanitarian issues and provides medical and health assistance, social assistance to orphanages, infirmaries, prisoners and the disabled and educational and cultivation assistance for the development of projects in the economical and agricultural sectors across all communities in the Lebanon. The foundation was awarded the Pontifical Medal by Pope Benedict XVI during a ceremony to mark the occasion held at the Vatican in 2008. The medal was in recognition of the achievement and efforts made by the Alwaleed Bin Talal Humanitarian Foundation for encouraging tolerance between the different religious faiths and social groups in Lebanon, and promoting religious dialogue. Moreover, the medal acknowledged the foundation’s philanthropic activities and support to those in need regardless of their background and creed. Ms. El Solh personally received the medal from the Pope at the Vatican.