Financial Constraints and Facilities Challenge Gen Z Volunteers at Manggarai Mosque

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The decision by dozens of Gen Z in RW 07, Manggarai, South Jakarta, to devote themselves to the mosque appears to illuminate the lingering stigma around gang violence in the area. They chose a different path, avoiding involvement in clashes and prioritising contributing to the mosque and the local community through the skills they possess. Dozens of Gen Z people are part of the Al-Falaah Mosque Youth Association (Ikatan Remaja Masjid, IRMA), which has been established since 2016 and remains active to this day.

Among the many activities and programmes, Gen Z members involved with IRMA frequently face challenges, especially funding. When they want to organise programmes for internal or external purposes, IRMA members have to source their own funds, whether by circulating proposals or pooling contributions from those who are employed and earning an income. The limited funds often hinder Gen Z from realising programmes that would actually benefit IRMA members themselves or the surrounding community.

“I am the head of the sports department, so when we want to organise activities outside, funding is often the obstacle,” said one Gen Z member named Fahri Akmal (18) in an interview with Kompas.com at Masjid Al-Falaah, on Tuesday (3/3/2026). This is because the mosque only provides space or classes for TPA (Taman Pendidikan Al-Quran) to learn.

On the other hand, the Gen Z do not require the children learning at the TPA to pay tuition even if it is only Rp 25,000 per month; thus, if there are shortfalls in the learning and teaching facilities, they do not hesitate to dip into their own money to contribute so that the activities to educate Manggarai’s children continue to run smoothly.

Not only do they make material sacrifices, the Gen Z also sacrifice time and energy to teach at the TPA Al-Falaah without receiving a single penny in return.

“Running those programmes is tough, due to external and internal factors. External factors? The funding factor cannot be changed,” said Guntur when interviewed on Tuesday.

Beyond programmes like events, all of IRMA’s daily operational activities such as routine pengajian sessions and other matters require significant funds because they have to pay the teachers.