Baznas Trains Santri to Become Fashion Entrepreneurs
The National Zakat Agency (Baznas) RI held a Santripreneur Bootcamp for the Fashion Cluster 2026 to create competitive and economically independent santri through strengthening business skills and developing fashion enterprises. A total of 50 participants were selected for the bootcamp after a selection process that attracted 927 registrants from various regions in Indonesia.
Baznas RI’s Head of Distribution, Utilisation, and Empowerment, Idy Muzayyad, stated that the Santripreneur programme is one of Baznas’s utilisation initiatives aimed at developing the potential of santri to have a positive impact on society while strengthening economic independence.
“We created this Santripreneur programme to build santri who not only have an entrepreneurial spirit, but we want to create santri entrepreneurs, not just entrepreneurs who happen to be santri,” he said in an official statement on Monday (6/7).
He added that the fashion cluster was chosen because it has great prospects and continuously increasing market demand. Therefore, Baznas wants to encourage the growth of a fashion industry driven by santri.
“The potential of the fashion world is actually very much needed by society. However, we want this industry to grow from among the santri,” he said.
Baznas RI’s Director of National Distribution and Utilisation, Agus Siswanto, revealed the high level of public enthusiasm for the programme.
“Since registration opened from 12 to 26 May 2026, a total of 927 people registered to take part in this competition,” said Agus.
“Our main goal is to transform santri who were previously mustahik into muzaki. Through this programme, you will all help realise our shared vision of strengthening the role of zakat to make it more meaningful and beneficial for the community,” he said.
The bootcamp was enthusiastically welcomed by the santri. One participant, Arifin, a santri from Rembang studying at the Kiai Galang Sewu Islamic Boarding School in Semarang, brought his fashion business, the Rembang Klod brand, which produces t-shirts, jackets, and various merchandise themed around the culture and identity of the Rembang region.
Arifin expressed his gratitude for being selected as one of the 50 best participants. He said the Baznas Santripreneur programme aligned with his business development needs.
“Thank you, Baznas. This programme will certainly be very beneficial for us, especially for santri who still need a lot of knowledge about entrepreneurship, particularly in the fashion sector. So it is not just capital assistance, but also knowledge, experience, and networks,” he said.
Over five days, the participants will receive intensive training focusing on digitalisation strategies, marketing management, and other supporting materials to strengthen the santri’s ability to develop their businesses. As a form of continued support, Baznas will select the three best participants to receive business capital assistance, as well as coaching and mentoring in running and developing their fashion businesses.