Ramadan Teaches Empathy and Mutual Sharing
Padang — Haris Pertama, Chairman of the Central Board of the Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI), distributed aid to hundreds of residents affected by floods and landslides in Punggung Lading Village, Pariaman City, West Sumatra.
“This activity is part of the KNPI Central Board’s Ramadan humanitarian safari programme, which has previously been implemented in the Aceh region, as a manifestation of youth’s concern for communities affected by disasters,” Haris Pertama said in a written statement on Tuesday (10 March 2026).
In this activity, the KNPI Central Board not only provided relief to affected residents but also channelled assistance to the village surau (mosque) to support community worship activities during Ramadan. Haris Pertama stated that Ramadan is an important momentum for strengthening social solidarity and humanitarian concern, particularly for the younger generation.
“Ramadan teaches us to share and strengthen empathy. KNPI is present not merely to bring aid, but also to ensure that Indonesian youth are always at the forefront of helping communities facing difficulties,” he explained.
According to him, assistance to the surau in Punggung Lading Village is also part of efforts to strengthen the spiritual life of the community in the post-disaster situation.
“The surau is the centre of social and spiritual life in Minangkabau society. Therefore, besides helping residents affected by the disaster, we also want to ensure that places of worship can continue to be used properly by the community during Ramadan,” he said.
Haris also urged all youth elements in various regions to strengthen the movement of solidarity and social concern, especially when communities are facing disasters.
He held that youth not only have a role as agents of change in intellectual discourse but must also be present concretely within society.
“Indonesian youth must become a social force capable of spreading empathy and mutual cooperation. This spirit is what we continue to cultivate through the KNPI Ramadan Safari,” he concluded.