JAKARTA — In commemoration of National Zakat Day 1444 H / 2023 AD every 27th of Ramadan, the Forum Zakat (FOZ) presents female figures of activists of the Indonesian Zakat Movement. This initiative is regularly organized by zakat institutions in Indonesia that are members of FOZ.
The commemoration of zakat day this time is also close to Kartini Day. So, FOZ this time carried the theme “Women Heroes of Zakat” by holding a public discussion attended by various zakat institutions and media activists. The event was held at Beranda Kitchen, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta on Monday (17/4/2023), followed by an iftar event.
Female zakat heroes who spoke included Etika Setiawanti as Director of Fundraising Dompet Dhuafa, Zahra as Representative of the Hijab Journalist Community, Humairoh Anahdi as the Zakat Forum’s Innovation Field, and Bintang Puspayoga as the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection who attended offline.
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In the welcome session before the discussion began, FOZ Secretary General Irvan Nugraha explained that many zakat institution programs focus on women’s empowerment in health, education, and economic aspects. This discussion involved the media as a form of momentum in the efforts of zakat institutions to expose the benefits of zakat for women. According to him, women are important societal entities that are the family’s main foundation.
“On National Zakat Day, which falls on the 27th of Ramadan, it is a momentum that needs to be optimized to strengthen and multiply zakat shiar. We invite the public to pay zakat through institutions to expand the benefits. The management of zakat for women is one concrete example of expanding the benefits of zakat,” she said.
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In the discussion session, Dompet Dhuafa’s Director of Fundraising, Etika Setiawanti mentioned that women have tremendous influence without reducing their nature. In Dompet Dhuafa, for example, at the management level it involves women, even more than 40%. In recruitment, Dompet Dhuafa’s HR also does not look at gender, both men and women. Even in the Dai selection process, if the target congregation is women, Dompet Dhuafa will open to looking for female Daiyah.
In terms of program beneficiaries, both zakat and other Islamic philanthropic instruments, Dompet Dhuafa ensures that directly or indirectly, there are aspects of women’s empowerment.
“We have a program that coordinates with the Ministry of PPPA (Kementrian PPPA), namely empowering women in Bali to make them women entrepreneurs. Then Dompet Dhuafa Hospital, LKC, and clinics in various cities, be it midwives, doctors, nurses, many are women. And there are many more programs involving women. All programs that involve women in it have results that are not inferior to men,” he said.
Meanwhile, a Representative of the Hijab Journalist Community, Zahra said that women must indeed have awareness of involvement in their fields, including zakat.
“And certainly must support each other and realize that they must build and be involved,” she said.
In line with that, the Executive of Innovation, Humairoh Anahdi said women have an advantage. That is greater empathy than men. In disaster events, for example, with the same procedure, women can better assess the impact of events from the mental side of the needs of the victims.
“In terms of zakat management, empathy is the point. Women’s involvement in the social environment can still align with their nature. One of them is when a disaster occurs, and women become the main actors involved there,” she said.
Separately, the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection of the Republic of Indonesia, Bintang Puspayoga said that zakat is also a form of encouraging a sense of solidarity and tolerance to vulnerable groups, especially people experiencing poverty including women and children.
“There have been many practices, both the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection collaboration with the Zakat Forum association in helping women and children when affected by Covid-19. Likewise, those affected by disasters, including ijtihad zakat for women and children violence programs, “she said.
Etika again added it is very unfortunate until now, with so many easy access for women to be empowered, but many women still feel inferior. Ironically, this happens as a result of women themselves who tend to be uncomfortable seeing fellow women become superior. So, women should support each other.
“I strongly support the woman support woman movement. Sometimes fellow women have a competitive side. The tendency of women to support men, when in fact women also really need support from the women themselves,” she concluded. (Dompet Dhuafa/Muthohar)