LAZ Hadji Kalla Unveils Programme to Eradicate Extreme Poverty by 2026
Jakarta—Lembaga Amil Zakat (LAZ) Hadji Kalla, an Islamic alms distribution institution, has prepared several programmes for 2026. The zakat, infaq and sadaqah (ZIS) distribution budget is set at IDR 49.3 billion, comprising IDR 29.5 billion in zakat and IDR 19.8 billion in infaq.
ZIS distribution covers Islamic Care, Educare, Humanity and Environment, Community Development, Economy, General ZIS, and support for various community empowerment activities. The primary focus of these programmes is to eradicate extreme poverty, particularly in LAZ Hadji Kalla’s operational areas.
LAZ Hadji Kalla has outlined its 2026 work programme roadmap organised across five programme areas: Islamic Care, Educare, Humanity and Environment, Community Development, and Economic Care.
Executive Director of LAZ Hadji Kalla, Mohammad Zuhair, explained that in 2026, the organisation will strengthen its five programme pillars, with a long-term focus targeting the asnaf fakir and miskin (poorest and poor groups) as primary beneficiaries in ZIS distribution in 2025, 2026 and beyond. This focus demonstrates support for the government’s efforts to eradicate extreme poverty, particularly in the Sulawesi region.
He added that LAZ Hadji Kalla continues to increase the value of ZIS distribution through empowerment programmes to achieve this target.
“As a consequence, the number of aid recipients may appear stagnant. However, we hope the opportunity for mustahik (beneficiaries) to truly escape from poverty will increase significantly,” he said.
LAZ Hadji Kalla is also implementing best practices from internal experience and proven methods from various institutions, ensuring ZIS funds provide sustainable benefits tailored to beneficiaries’ needs. Zuhair further emphasised that LAZ Hadji Kalla will continue allocating ZIS distribution to other asnaf groups including converts to Islam, those in the path of God, and those in debt. Assistance is tailored to needs, whether in the form of knowledge strengthening, skills development, goods provision, or business capital.
“As a LAZ that collects ZIS from companies under the KALLA umbrella, LAZ Hadji Kalla maintains the principle that zakat collected in a region should be distributed within that region. Therefore, the majority of ZIS distribution is concentrated in Sulawesi as the largest operational area of Kalla companies,” he said.
The Islamic Care pillar encompasses various community-focused programmes, including Iftar Sharing, Happy Eid al-Fitr, Scholar Dissemination, Sound System Outreach, Inclusive Qur’anic Outreach, Asnaf Empowerment, and Inspirational Study Circles. During Ramadan 1447 Hijra, three programmes are already underway—Iftar Sharing, Happy Eid al-Fitr, and Scholar Dissemination—in response to community needs during the holy month.
Programme Manager for Islamic Care at LAZ Hadji Kalla, Salman Febriansyah, noted that Ramadan is a strategic opportunity to expand the impact of community services.
“We ensure programmes such as Iftar Sharing and Happy Eid al-Fitr are not merely ceremonial but precisely targeted and reach mosques, communities of the underprivileged, orphanages, and Islamic boarding schools across various regions. Meanwhile, Scholar Dissemination strengthens Islamic literacy and community guidance during Ramadan,” he explained.
In the Educare pillar, programmes include Kalla Scholarships, Kalla Family Scholarships, Resilient Families and Independent Accreditation, and educational assistance for Sekolah Islam Athirah (SIA) Bone as part of educational quality enhancement efforts.
The Humanity and Environment pillar in 2026 covers disaster mitigation and disaster risk reduction programmes. For health focus, programmes include healthy circumcision services for poor families’ children and active communities for heart health, healthy homes preventing stunting, green energy villages, and climate-resilient green action through sustainable mangrove education centres.
The Community Development pillar focuses on Scholar Dissemination programmes as community strengthening initiatives, whilst the Economic Care pillar introduces Empowered and Independent Islamic Boarding Schools, overseas internship preparation, and Kalla Preneur, which promotes resilient and sustainable entrepreneurship. These programmes target all KALLA operational areas in South Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, and Jakarta and surrounding areas for Iftar Sharing and Happy Eid al-Fitr programmes.
“Through this gathering, LAZ Hadji Kalla reaffirms its commitment to continuously presenting impactful, measurable, and sustainable programmes, whilst opening collaboration spaces with various parties to expand benefits to the community,” he concluded.