RIAU — As a form of accountability to the public, Dompet Dhuafa Riau Branch presented a performance report throughout 2024 which was packaged in a “Press Conference” event at Tudung Saji, Pekanbaru, Riau, Friday (13/12/2024). The event was attended by various parties, including local governments, entrepreneurs, collaboration partners, donors, mass media, both online, radio, and TV, to social media influencers.
Dompet Dhuafa’s General Manager of Network Development, Bobby P. Manullang, and Dompet Dhuafa Riau Branch Manager, Hendi Mardika, were the main speakers. In addition, there were also assistants and beneficiaries of the economic empowerment program, namely Bu Ayu and Bu Ebat, who shared their experiences.
Bobby P. Manullang explained Dompet Dhuafa’s journey nationally in alleviating poverty through five program pillars: social, education, health, economy, da’wah and culture. He explained that Dompet Dhuafa now focuses more on community empowerment so that beneficiaries (mustahik) become independent and contribute as zakat givers (muzakki).
“At the beginning of the establishment of Dompet Dhuafa, this institution was devoted to serving the basic and urgent needs of the weak community, and now it has transformed into the implementation of empowerment programs so that the independence of the mustahik can be achieved. Since its inception, Dompet Dhuafa has focused on poverty alleviation through four pillars: social, education, health, and da’wah. Now, the pillar has increased, namely the economic pillar, by continuing to develop empowerment programs so that beneficiaries are independent and also able to contribute as zakat givers. Our hope is that more people will benefit from Dompet Dhuafa’s programs, so that they can get out of poverty and become muzakki,” Bobby said.
Bobby also conveyed the development of productive waqf management carried out by Dompet Dhuafa. One manifestation of this is the establishment of a hospital that provides free services for the poor.
Continuing Bobby, Hendi Mardika explained that until the end of 2024, Dompet Dhuafa Riau had raised funds amounting to Rp6.1 billion, an increase of 26 percent compared to the previous year of Rp4.8 billion. The funds have been distributed to 12,527 beneficiaries in Riau Province.
As much as 87 percent of the funds raised have been distributed in various programs, while the rest is allocated for tactical needs and programs at the beginning of the following year. This, according to Hendi, is part of good fund management as an Amil Zakat Institution.
Dompet Dhuafa Riau implements various strategic programs, such as the Humanitarian Program in the form of assistance for flood victims in West Sumatra and Riau. Then in the health program, Dompet Dhuafa participated in providing health services for malaria cases and handling stunting cases. While in the Education program, Dompet Dhuafa sends teachers to remote areas to provide scholarships to orphans and poor children. Furthermore, in the Culture Program, Dompet Dhuafa conducts a silat culture preservation program and develops the tradition of weaving pandanus suai.
The economic empowerment program which is now the main focus is on the pandan suai weaving development program which now empowers 10 housewives in Siak. This program then managed to get the attention and appreciation of several companies that participated in providing guidance and ordering woven products.
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Ms. Ayu, the facilitator of the pandanus weaving program, said that this initiative started since the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021. The weaving tradition that was initially only for personal use is now a source of income. Mrs. Ebat, one of the beneficiaries, stated that product orders have increased, resulting in increased income.
Also present was one of Riau’s Key Opinion Leaders (KOL) as a resource person, namely Carel. He is often with Dompet Dhuafa Riau doing social activities. For him, Dompet Dhuafa Riau has many programs that are very useful. He also hopes that these programs can continue to grow and benefit many people.
Dompet Dhuafa Riau hopes that by 2025 public trust in this institution will increase. With increased support from the community, fundraising is expected to continue to grow, so that Dompet Dhuafa is able to reach more beneficiaries.
“In the future, we want more and more people to be helped through Dompet Dhuafa’s strategic programs, both in the fields of humanity, education, economic empowerment, and health. With greater support, we are optimistic that we can have a wider and more sustainable impact on the poor,” Hendi said.
At the same time, Dompet Dhuafa is holding a Capacity Building – Integrated Management of Sumatra Regional Disasters at Rindu Sempadan, Muara Fajar, Kec. Rumbai, Pekanbaru City. This is Dompet Dhuafa’s commitment to strengthening the capacity of amil zakat and humanitarian volunteers throughout Sumatra. This step is taken to build education and disaster mitigation in a sustainable manner.
With these achievements, Dompet Dhuafa Riau has proven its contribution not only at the local level, but also nationally, in supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photo: Riza Muthohar
Editor: Dhika