BAZNAS Views Lebaran Yatim as Momentum to Empower Mustahik

The National Alms Agency (BAZNAS) considers the Lebaran Anak Yatim dan Difabel celebration on 10 Muharram at the Ministry of Religious Affairs building to be a momentum for encouraging mustahik to become more independent and empowered. “This year’s festival theme is very appropriate because true social justice for orphans and persons with disabilities is achieved when we give them space to speak, create, and lead their own future,” said BAZNAS RI Chairman Sodik Mudjahid in Jakarta on Thursday. The Lebaran Anak Yatim dan Difabel celebration was initiated by the Ministry of Religious Affairs as part of the Peaceful Muharam programme, collaborating with several Islamic philanthropic institutions, including BAZNAS. Sodik expressed full support for the event, themed ‘Inclusive Message Festival from the Soul of Children for the Nation’, in order to change the paradigm of social assistance into potential-based empowerment. He stated that through the managed zakat and waqf ecosystem, BAZNAS is committed to shifting the role of beneficiaries so that they are no longer objects of pity, but rather active, independent subjects. To fully support this target, he said BAZNAS continues to optimise the distribution of public funds into long-term productive programmes such as creative education scholarships and adaptive skills training. “We hope this ‘Peaceful Muharram’ collaboration will be a turning point for national zakat management that focuses on glorifying human dignity and strengthening the extraordinary potential of our children,” he said. Previously, Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar stated he would make every 10th of Muharram a momentum for celebrating Lebaran Anak Yatim, focused on helping orphans and disabled groups to be free from various life difficulties. “We will create a kind of new tradition in Indonesia, every 10th of Muharram, we commemorate it by freeing orphans and disabled groups from suffering,” said the Minister. Minister Nasaruddin explained that the idea is expected to become a positive new tradition in Indonesia by making Muharram a momentum for social awareness towards those in need. He noted that the public is more familiar with the practice of fasting during the month of Muharram, but the spirit of sharing and caring for orphans also needs to be strengthened as part of the commemoration of this honoured month.