ICMI Holds Social Outreach and Silaturahim, Distributing Hundreds of Aid Packages

Yheni Fadli, the head of the ICMI Baksos dan Silaturahim Committee, said the activity reflects the organisation’s social concern and serves to strengthen ties between the management and the surrounding community. ‘This activity aims to be in silaturahim with residents around and to share during Ramadhan. We want to strengthen the familial bonds between the community and the organisers,’ he said. He explained that more than 200 residents would receive social assistance packages in the event. The activities will close with buka bersama (iftar), which will also feature 65 children who usually attend pesantren kilat at the ICMI Office. ‘Total there are around 200 residents who will receive packages. Then there are 65 younger siblings who participate in pesantren kilat here,’ he added. The event, initiated by the Center for Information and Development Studies (CIDeS) ICMI, forms part of the organisation’s Ramadhan programme, which includes a range of social and religious activities. According to Yheni, holding the activities at the CIDeS office marks a new momentum because previously the silaturahim and buka together activities were conducted by rotating at the offices of the organisers. ‘All this time, our activities routinely moved around the offices of the organisers. This time we took the initiative to hold it at the office to give it a new flavour and to mingle more with the surrounding community,’ he said. He added that, as a civil society organisation, ICMI is committed to fostering closer ties with the public and actively carrying out activities that deliver social benefits. Besides sharing and silaturahim, Yheni noted that ICMI runs various community-empowerment programmes across several fields and member organisations within it. ICMI, founded by Indonesia’s third President B. J. Habibie, has long been known as a forum for Muslim scholars that supports government development programmes and promotes progress for the umat and the nation. ‘We hope that through these activities ICMI can continue to contribute to community empowerment and do good for the nation’s progress,’ he said. ICMI’s Ramadhan programmes include Ramadhan Leadership Camp, Ramadhan Literacy for Dai Cendekia, Roadshow Silaturahmi, Pesantren Kilat for the elderly and for children, ICMI Islamic Film Festival, Tabligh Akbar, Nuzulul Quran, Ramadhan Fundraising. Then, Podcast Bedah/Kajian Ulumul Quran, Santunan Penganar Quran and ICMI staff, provision of daily iftar packages, National Meeting of ICMI Researchers, launching Beras Cendekia and Wakaf Pangan Cendekia, Khotbah Idul Fitri by the ICMI Chairman, Halal Bihalal and Silaturahmo Kebangsaan.