IZI's Ramadan Blessings Booking Movement Targets 3T and Post-Disaster Areas

JAKARTA — The Indonesian Zakat Initiative (IZI) launched the "Booking Blessings of Ramadan 1447 H" movement as an effort to encourage independent worship for the underprivileged, especially in remote areas, disaster-affected areas, and the 3T (frontier, outermost, and disadvantaged) areas.

The program launch was held in a hybrid format at the Sofyan Cut Meutia Hotel in Jakarta on Thursday, January 22. The event was attended by the Director of Zakat and Waqf Empowerment at the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs, Waryono Abdul Ghafur, and several IZI collaboration partners.

IZI LAZNAS President Director Wildhan Dewayana stated that the Booking Blessings of Ramadan program is not simply a temporary aid program, but is designed to ensure that the basic needs and worship facilities of those who are entitled to receive the benefits are met from the start of Ramadan.

"Ramadan should be a time for serenity and devotion to worship. Therefore, we want to ensure that the basic needs and worship facilities of those who are entitled to receive the benefits are met from the start of Ramadan," he said.

According to Wildhan, this movement addresses the various challenges often faced by the underprivileged in the run-up to Ramadan, ranging from food shortages, limited access to prayer equipment, to the inadequate condition of prayer rooms and prayer environments. This approach is expected to maintain the dignity of beneficiaries while supporting the continuity of worship during the holy month.

During Ramadan 1447 Hijri, this program will reach 17 IZI representative offices, post-disaster areas in West Sumatra, Aceh, and North Sumatra, as well as several locations in the 3T (frontier and outermost) regions. Aid is distributed through five pillars: prayer room repairs, Ramadan packages, iftar and takjil (less than two meals a day), Quran distribution, and the provision of prayer equipment.

Meanwhile, Waryono Abdul Ghafur believes Ramadan is a crucial opportunity to foster social solidarity, especially amidst the complexity of the increasing poverty problem, including the consequences of disasters.

"Ramadan is a crucial opportunity to encourage those with sufficient means to take a concrete role in helping others through zakat, infaq, and sadaqah," he said.

He appreciates the "booking" concept, which he believes makes zakat distribution more targeted and impactful. According to him, this approach encourages donors to consciously determine the beneficiaries they will help.

To expand public participation, IZI also provides various zakat service channels, ranging from digital platforms to zakat outlets in public spaces, as well as partnership programs that open up opportunities for broader collaboration with the community.