For the 7th consecutive year, Indonesia is the most generous country in the world according to the World Giving Index (WGI). According to the WGI 2024 report, 9 out of 10 Indonesians donate money to charity. And currently, Generation Z or Gen Z is the largest generational group in Indonesia, with 74.93 million people. With that, it can be interpreted that Gen Z in Indonesia likes to give charity or alms to help others. What does Gen Z-style almsgiving look like?
Gen Z-style almsgiving
Based on IDN Research Institute’s research, the average income of Gen Z is only around IDR 2.5 million. The majority of Gen Z in Indonesia spend their income on basic needs, such as food, housing, and transport.
Interestingly, Gen Z spends more money on holidays and entertainment than on health and self-development. This is because Gen Z is very concerned about their mental health and holidays are a means of healing or ‘healing’ for Gen Z from the daily grind.
Even so, Gen Z is a generation that likes to provide assistance to others or in other words likes to give alms. They give alms in various forms, from giving goods, favours, services, to money. What are some of Gen Z’s forms of almsgiving?
Read also: The Gen Z phenomenon is hard to find a job: Why and How to Solve It?
Preloved Used Goods for Donation
Donating items to people in need is part of Gen Z’s concern for social life and the environment. They prefer to live in a minimalist way and think more about mental health. Now, Gen Z is slowly changing their lifestyle for the better. This choice is also an act of demanding systemic change from the government and corporations.
Therefore, Gen Z doesn’t mind selling their used items that are still good, then the proceeds are donated to help people in need. Gen Z is also very literate about human rights, so it is not surprising that they care so much about humanitarian issues, including the humanitarian issues that occur in Palestine. Dompet Dhuafa also accepts gently used items that will be sold and the proceeds donated to the people of Palestine.
Social contribution through content
In this day and age, social media has become a necessity for everyone. Through social media, humans feel connected to other humans even though they are in different spaces and times. This need for social media is also utilised by Gen Z to help more people. How do they do it? By mobilising aid through content uploaded to social media.
Through content, one can capture the lives of people in need and share it. The spirit to be able to help also spreads to people who see or watch the content. If that’s the case, there are many people who intend to donate their money to be given to people in need. Social contributions are made organically.
This Gen Z-style charity is quite popular among their group. However, you need to be careful with this kind of social contribution. The risk of misappropriation of donations is very high, because the distribution is done by individuals/groups, not professional institutions. It is better if we want to help others with alms, we channel the donations to trusted institutions, one of which is Dompet Dhuafa, which has proven to be trustworthy and transparent.
Read also: Sadaqah When It’s Hard: Strengthening Faith, Opening Doors to Sustenance
Join Volunteering Activities
Almsgiving for Gen Z is not only giving goods or money, but also providing labour/services. Participating in volunteering activities is also a form of almsgiving. Apart from being a place to self-actualise, volunteering is also a means of healing for Gen Z. There, they unwind from daily work activities and interact with people in need, nurturing their social spirit.
For Friends who are interested in participating in volunteer activities, you can join Dompet Dhuafa Volunteer or DDV. DDV is a forum established by Dompet Dhuafa for people who are passionate about humanitarian missions and helping community empowerment activities on a voluntary basis. DDV has many activities and programmes as well as a network of volunteers from Sabang to Merauke.
Sadaqa for the Family
As many as 19.6 per cent of Gen Z in Indonesia is a sandwich generation. What is that? A sandwiched generation that has to take care of both their parents and their children. As a result, Gen Z’s income must be shared with parents, as well as children (for those who are married). Due to limited income, they end up making the income given to the family as alms.
This is certainly not wrong, because Islam considers the maintenance given by a head of household to his family as alms. Especially if someone is not the head of the household, the material they give to their family is part of alms that are worth the reward.
Sadaqa Subuh
Generation Z is a group of people who are currently struggling to get into a public university, get a job, and find a mate. Some of them believe that the Fajr alms can be a means to get Allah’s help and fulfilment of prayers.
Any deeds done at dawn will be witnessed and prayed for by two angels. Especially if we give alms while accompanied by sincere prayers. Almsgiving at dawn can help fulfil prayers, facilitate sustenance, and facilitate all affairs. This is in accordance with the following hadith:
‘There is not a single Fajr that the servants of Allah experience except that two angels descend upon them. One of them says: ‘O Allah, reward the one who spends’. The other one says: ‘O Allah, bring harm to the one who withholds his wealth’.’ (HR Bukhari-Muslim)
Read also: Dompet Dhuafa Distributes Emergency Aid to Thousands of Bandung Earthquake Refugees
Online Sadaqa
Gen Z-style almsgiving varies, one of the most popular is online almsgiving. Gen Z is commonly referred to as the first generation and natives of the digital world. They grew up with social media and smartphones. They are also used to living in a digital-first world.
As natives, Gen Z uses the internet for almost everything. From socialising, getting entertainment, to working and studying as well as donating or giving alms. In the IDN Research Institute 2022 report, Gen Z is a group that likes to give alms online and Dompet Dhuafa is the second favourite online alms platform for Gen Z and millennials.
Online charity is popular because of its convenience and practicality. In addition, if you give alms online through the Dompet Dhuafa Application (DD Apps), you can track where your alms are channelled. Payment methods also vary, can be through online payments such as OVO, ShopeePay, GoPay and so on. This feature is certainly very easy for Friends who want to give alms.
That’s the variety of alms in the Gen Z style today. Although still relatively young, Gen Z is already very literate with their social environment. Because, socio-economic inequality is the thing they are most worried about. Let’s give your wealth mindfully! Dompet Dhuafa can be an institution that you trust to channel your kindness. (RQA)
