DEPOK, WEST JAVA — After a long career in the mass media industry, Gaib Maruto Sigit, or Gaib as he is fondly known, expressed his deepest feelings towards one of Indonesia’s largest Islamic philanthropic organizations, Dompet Dhuafa.
A brief meeting with Gaib in Depok, West Java, on Wednesday (September 14, 2022) has led us to express gratitude for the work done by Dompet Dhuafa, maintaining trust and providing the best for both donors and journalists who have served as a voice for good news to the community.
Amidst the declining public trust in fundraising efforts by various institutions and organizations in Indonesia, Gaib offers a different perspective on Dompet Dhuafa. According to him, Dompet Dhuafa is more than just a philanthropic organization. The mandate it carries today is to serve as the “last bastion” of Islamic philanthropy, particularly in Indonesia.
“Dompet Dhuafa is the ‘last bastion’ of public trust in Islamic philanthropic institutions. If Dompet Dhuafa were to betray the public’s trust, then the public’s trust in Islamic philanthropic institutions would be lost,” he said.
On the other hand, Gaib also commended Dompet Dhuafa’s various programs, which continue to innovate to provide the widest possible benefits to society, especially the underprivileged. Gaib also highlighted one of Dompet Dhuafa’s programs in helping a farmer to get out of debt.
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“We really appreciate Dompet Dhuafa’s program that helps acute cases in Indonesia, such as helping farmers escape from the trap of ijon or loan sharks and helping their families escape the vicious cycle of poverty,” continued Gaib.
Still on the same topic, Gaib shared his perspective on the programs that should be the main focus at this time. Scholarships, according to Gaib, should be expanded further, especially up to the university level. The right to higher education must continue to be improved to break the cycle of poverty in Indonesia.
“The programs that need to be expanded are scholarships for those who are unable to afford education, building schools, and even universities. Because only the wealthy can afford higher education, those who are unable to excel should be given scholarships. Assistance for MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) requires good management because government aid does not address the underlying issues. As for improving culture, I think it’s just a gimmick. It may be necessary once in a while, but it’s not a top priority,” he said.
Finally, Gaib encouraged Dompet Dhuafa to continue engaging the community in various charitable activities. One of the ways suggested by Gaib is to strengthen communication media so that the community can more easily access Dompet Dhuafa’s various services.
“In this era of openness, don’t be shy about promoting good deeds. Whatever good is done should reach a wider audience. Therefore, strengthen Dompet Dhuafa’s communication team. Make it easy to contact them and respond quickly if media outlets want to conduct interviews, for example. When building relationships with the media, avoid bureaucratic procedures,” Gaib concluded. (Dompet Dhuafa / Arlen)