JEDDAH — The Ministry of Social Affairs reported there are 11 orphanages in the Kingdom that offer various skills development courses and educational support to their wards. Makkah Social Affairs Director Abdullah Al-Tawi said orphanages and shelter homes offer various courses such as preparation for marriage, cookery and customs and traditions. The ministry also rewards fostering families with SR3,000 a month for each adopted child. He added the ministry also takes care of finding work for orphans after graduation and gives them the opportunity to study abroad on a scholarship with a monthly student stipend of SR2,000. The ministry also sponsors orphans wishing to study in the Kingdom by granting them a monthly stipend of SR1,200. Al-Tawi said: “The orphan boys are also given their own cars when they reach the appropriate age. “The ministry also encourages them to get married. They are given SR6,000 when they do get married. “We are continuously conducting studies on orphans' needs from infancy to when they get married and parenthood.” A source from the ministry also said the government department tries to offer educational and behavioral courses for autistic children and children with special needs. The source said: “There are 120,000 autistic children in the Kingdom and the ministry supports families with special needs children by granting them SR10,000 a year. “The ministry also offers home services in which a specialist visits the family's home to teach them how to deal with a child with special needs and disabilities.” The Kingdom currently has 25 social and preparatory centers for special needs children, 46 public special needs centers and 54 private special needs centers, said the source.
