Dompet Dhuafa Launches BesTeam, a Collaborative Movement to Strengthen Orphan Support

Dompet Dhuafa has launched the BesTeam (Bestian Sama Yatim) programme as a collaborative movement to strengthen support and empowerment for orphans in Indonesia. The programme, part of the Islamic New Year 1448 Hijriah commemorations, was launched at the Antara Heritage Center in Jakarta on Thursday (18/6). The launch of BesTeam marks Dompet Dhuafa’s effort to integrate various existing orphan support programmes to make them more impactful and sustainable. To date, Dompet Dhuafa’s orphan support programmes have reached more than 23,842 orphans, with over 1,239 scholarship beneficiaries. BesTeam Programme Chair Widodo stated that the initiative was born from an effort to elaborate on existing programmes into a movement closer to the community. “Orphans indeed experience the loss of a loved one in their lives. But we believe they have extraordinary potential, talent, and spirit to become a brilliant generation. Therefore, there is no reason for us not to care,” Widodo said. According to him, millions of orphans in Indonesia need support and assistance to develop optimally. BesTeam therefore invites the public to become part of the orphans’ growth and development journey. Widodo explained that the term “Bestian Sama Yatim” was chosen to depict closeness between the community and orphans, while “BesTeam” signifies the best team comprising donors, volunteers, collaboration partners, and all parties jointly supporting the orphans’ future. “We want the community to feel closer to orphans. When we contribute to them, we become part of them, their best friends. That is why we call it Bestian Sama Yatim,” he explained. Through this programme, Dompet Dhuafa will strengthen various interventions spanning education, health, social support, and economic empowerment. The programmes include educational scholarships, health and nutrition assistance, skills development, and entrepreneurship support for orphans who have reached productive age. Besides reaching orphans across various regions in Indonesia, the programme also targets orphans affected by disasters and those in humanitarian conflict zones, including Palestine. On the same occasion, Dompet Dhuafa Foundation Vice Chair Herdiansyah emphasised that the organisation’s years of experience supporting orphans demonstrate the importance of a comprehensive approach to empowerment. He noted that existing scholarship programmes have successfully enabled orphans to enter Indonesia’s top universities. “Alhamdulillah, with continuous strengthening and support, orphans who were previously constrained have been able to pursue education at renowned universities. Some have graduated from the Bandung Institute of Technology, Gadjah Mada University in medicine, and the University of Indonesia. They can stand tall and equal with anyone,” Herdiansyah said. He believes orphans have the same right to development opportunities, so support must not focus on just one aspect. “We see that a single strengthening instrument is insufficient. If only education is assisted, other issues often hinder progress. For example, urgent health or family economic needs may cause education aid to be diverted. Therefore, support must be holistic,” he said. Herdiansyah explained that the cycle of poverty faced by some orphans requires mutually reinforcing interventions across education, health, and economic sectors. All three must run concurrently for children to grow and develop optimally. “If the economy is strong but health is compromised, growth and development will not be maximised. Conversely, if only health is supported but access to education is limited, they still struggle to develop. That is why we promote comprehensive strengthening so all supporting factors for a child’s life can be fulfilled,” he stated. Through BesTeam, Dompet Dhuafa hopes to build a sustainable orphan support ecosystem while expanding community involvement in honouring and empowering orphans to grow into an independent, capable generation that can benefit their surroundings.