KEI ISLAND, MALUKU — During Tebar Hewan Kurban (THK) 1445 AH/2024 AD this time, I was assigned to conduct a survey and Quality Control (QC) in eastern Indonesia. Precisely in Kei Kecil Island, Southeast Maluku Regency, Maluku Province. This has been my longest QC journey since my involvement in the THK Program since 2019.

The locals call the islands Nuhu Evav or Evav Islands. To the west the archipelago borders the Aru Islands, and to the northeast it borders the Tanimbar Islands. There are two modes of transportation to get to this 399 square km island, namely air flights and sea crossings. Both can only be done from Ambon, Maluku.

Not exactly a relaxing time to fly or sail to this small island in May. BMKG Southeast Maluku predicts that the wind will blow towards the northwest at 10 to 15 knots or 20 km per hour, with a wave height of 1.25 to 2.50 meters. In addition, be aware of the potential for extreme weather caused by Tropical Cyclone 91P in the Kei Islands region.

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The Kei people call this season the East Wind Season or East Monsoon. In this season, people tend not to do activities at sea, either to sail for fishing or just to cross.

Arriving in Kei land on Monday (5/20/2024), my team and I met Jamaluddin, Dompet Dhuafa Maluku’s partner in Kei Island. Dompet Dhuafa has channeled social programs through Jamal’s hands several times. However, not yet for THK.

Accompanied by Jamal, we visited several ohoi (villages) on the outskirts of the district. The purpose was twofold: to find qurbani cows and conduct QC. Secondly, to assess the potential qurbani beneficiaries.

Unlike the QC conducted by most THK Teams in the western and central regions, where the animals are in the community’s cages or at the DD Farm Livestock Center. In Eastern Indonesia, the team usually conducts QC in the wild. This is because it is not customary for people to tie livestock in cages. Including cattle that are left loose in the wild. Although sometimes they are still tied to trees or large rocks.

QC Process of Sacrificial Cattle

Heading to Ibra sub-district, we met the local religious leader, Ustaz Anwar. He showed us some cattle owned by the locals that were ready to be sacrificed. Although the bulls looked quite big and healthy, as well as being more than two years old, but as in the QC process, Mr. Jamal still had to do every step of the check.

The first bull to be checked was named Kula. For two hours, Pak Jamal and Ustaz Anwar circled around trying to get close to Kula to measure body length and chest circumference. Kula was not aggressive, but he was reluctant to be approached by people. Naturally, the reddish-black cow doesn’t see many people. Perhaps only the owner sometimes comes to greet him.

Worried that more time would be wasted, Ustaz Anwar called Linda Selayar (35), Kula’s owner. Sure enough, there was no worry or suspicion from Kula when Linda approached. Mr. Jamal immediately approached to hand over the measuring instrument. Meanwhile, everyone there, apart from Linda, had to hide in the bushes so as not to be seen by Kula. A body length of 150 cm and a body circumference of 160 cm were obtained. With the calculation of a mathematical QC formula, it was found that Kula’s weight was in the range of 350 kg. Thus, Kula passed the QC and was ready to become an animal sacrifice for Muslims to Allah SWT.

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Similarly, the second cow, also owned by Linda, successfully passed QC. However, not for the third cow. Because it is female, the team did not conduct QC because it is certainly not a criterion for THK Dompet Dhuafa animals.

Moving 200 meters away, we met another farmer, Mahmud Renwarin. He has five cows, two of which are females, the rest are males. However, one of the three males is under two years old.

This time the QC process was easier, as Mahmud took the measurements himself. In addition, his cows had just received a health check from the local Health Office. As a result, two of Mahmud’s bulls qualified for THK Dompet Dhuafa.

“This one’s name is Dodi. He is almost three years old. Just one month ago it was checked by the Health Office. Alhamdulillah, everything is healthy,” he said while trying to measure Dodi’s chest circumference and body length.

Beneficiary Assessment Process

The next day, we continued our journey to find distribution locations for qurbani animals. Ibra is a village with a Muslim community that is quite enthusiastic about performing qurbani. Therefore, it is not a priority target for THK beneficiaries.

Our beneficiary assessment process started at the very end of Kei Kecil Island, Ohoiwirin. In this ohoi, no cows or goats were seen roaming around. It turns out that qurbani is very rare in this village. Moreover, Muslims are the minority here. The absence of qurbani is motivated by the lack of awareness about it, as well as economic conditions.

The majority of the people in Ohoiwirin are fishermen. Some may choose to be odd-jobbers. In the east wind season like today, they are very reluctant to go to sea.

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Two hours from Ohoiwirin, we arrived at the next distribution target, Ohoidertawun. The local Islamic religious leader, Ahmad Albar, warmly welcomed us. As an Imam, a Muslim religious figure there, he fully understands the condition of his people. According to him, qurbani activities are very rare in Ohoidetawun. Just like in Ohoiwirin, besides the economic factor, the minority is also a factor. Moreover, the location is quite far from the city.

“There is rarely qurbani here. Maybe the awareness is not high. It’s also because of the economic condition of the community. Even if there is qurbani, it is usually donated by the local government. It’s not every year. Last year, there was one goat from the government. Because it’s impossible to share the meat, it won’t be enough, so we just cook together. After that, it was distributed in bowls to the houses,” he explained.

There are only 37 Muslim families living in 27 houses in this village. This is because one house can be occupied by more than one family. Even so, tolerance between religious communities in this village is very high. Even the Ministry of Religious Affairs has dubbed it a village of moderation.

The Ohoidertawun community’s daily activities include going to the sea to fish. In addition, they sow seaweed seeds as another way to earn money. Mulyadi Kilmas (52) is one of them.

Mulyadi lives in a small wooden house. We tried to interact more deeply. It was found that the house was inhabited by 10 people with four heads of households. There is nothing wrong with their lives. There is also no high desire in their minds. They are grateful people with all their simplicity.

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In fact, I’m the one who should be pitied. Living with many facilities in the city, does not make me as calm as they are. The opportunity to bring animals to this village, I would not miss out on as a form of compassion for myself.

“No one eats meat here. There are no animals. People here eat fish. Sometimes corn, sometimes embal (cassava). There was once goat meat because someone gave qurbani last year. But not much. Only a bowl for the whole house,” said Mulyadi.

Ohoidertawun Beach is the farthest meti (low tide) beach in Indonesia. Usually, the meti takes place at night. This phenomenon is utilized by the community to look for fish trapped by the methi. This is also the case with Mulyadi. Every night, he goes on foot as far as two kilometers from the shoreline to catch the trapped fish.

Partnering with Mimi Campervan to Success THK

The THK Team’s trip to Kei Kecil Island was also accompanied by a woman social activist, Mimi Campervan, as she is known online. The woman from West Sumatra has been traveling in eastern Indonesia for 13 months, carrying out social actions. Dompet Dhuafa’s collaboration with her is expected to further expand the benefits of THK in the eastern region, especially on Kei Kecil Island.

“It’s great to be able to collaborate with Dompet Dhuafa. I participated in every little stage of this THK QC. I found out that Dompet Dhuafa is very detailed in maintaining the quality of sacrificial animals. Then to determine the beneficiaries, we do it by visiting homes, greeting them, participating in their activities, and even tasting the food they eat every day,” said Mimi.

Without hesitation, Mimi invited her social media friends to take part in THK’s kindness on Kei Island. In the process of implementing the sacrifice, she will directly oversee the meat until it reaches the beneficiaries.

Friends of Dompet Dhuafa and Friends of Mimi Campervan! Let’s not miss the opportunity to perform qurbani with Mimi in eastern Indonesia. (Dompet Dhuafa)

QURBANI WITH WALLET DHUAFA REACHES REMOTE AREAS

Text and photo: Riza Muthohar
Editors: Dhika Prabowo, Ronna