NEW CALEDONIA — After meeting with the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia or Konsulat Jenderal Republik Indonesia (KJRI) Noumea on Monday (6/3/2023), to discuss the need for proselytizing in New Caledonia, Dompet Dhuafa continued to visit several local communities. This effort to establish closeness with the residents of New Caledonia took place on Tuesday (7/3/2023).
Dompet Dhuafa International Da’wah Officer Totok Hadi Fitoyo said that this activity was carried out to determine the right proselytizing scheme in the New Caledonia Country. He established intense communication with the local community, including the Union of Muslims of the Indonesian Society and Their Descendants or Persatuan Umat Islam Masyarakat Indonesia dan Keturunannya (PUIMIK) and the New Caledonia Muslim Association.
Totok invited these communities to discuss the collaboration of the da’wah program for the Indonesian diaspora (community) in New Caledonia during Ramadan 1444 H / 2023 AD later. This meeting took place very warmly between Dompet Dhuafa and PUIMIK as well as the new Caledonian Muslim Association.
PUIMIK Chairman Kasman Satiman, New Caledonia Muslim Association Secretary Rubio Rahmin Remo, and Noumea Islamic Center Chairman Imam Mustafa were present at the meeting. Through this meeting, Dompet Dhuafa was explicitly invited to participate in managing and carrying out proselytizing in New Caledonia which is still thick with its local culture, namely Javanese culture.
“I think it’s full of challenges, considering that New Caledonia started with javanese people so the custom of kejawen is very thick here. Dai from Dompet Dhuafa must be patient and full of persistence. However, we believe that Dai Dompet Dhuafa will be able to da’wah (well) here,” Kasman told Dompet Dhuafa.
In addition, Rubio also said that the presence of Dompet Dhuafa dai during Ramadan 1444 could later take shelter at the Islamic Center already in Noumea. That way, proselytizing activities throughout the month of worship and forgiveness can be even more lively.
“The existence of dai from Dompet Dhuafa during the month of Ramadan can later collaborate with the Islamic Center that already exists in Noumea, New Caledonia, so that it can be more lively for activities during Ramadan in 1444 H / 2023 AD,” he explained.
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Furthermore, Dompet Dhuafa will continue establishing partnerships with other local communities. The hope is that the more partners, the more Dompet Dhuafa will benefit the community.
“Insya Allah, the more partnerships in Noumea, New Caledonia, the more it provides broad benefits to the community, both local and Indonesian citizens in Noumea, New Caledonia,” explained Totok. (Dompet Dhuafa/THF/Muthohar)