"Preaching in rural areas must not stop." That was more or less what Mr. Parni Hadi said after hearing a report from Ustadz Umar Sanusi, the leader of the Rural Preaching Corps (CDP), and several other members. Mr. Parni asked again, "How much do they earn per month?" he asked, full of curiosity.

"They each receive Rp. 6,000 per month, sir," replied the CDP member. "I'm embarrassed. I apologize. After returning from Yogyakarta, I'll make something for my CDP friends," said Mr. Parni Hadi, eagerly challenged.

To be precise, on July 2, 1993, the Republika daily newspaper, titled "Dompet Dhuafa," was launched. Unexpectedly, 11 donors were listed in the small column, raising Rp 425,000. This event was later commemorated as the birth anniversary of Dompet Dhuafa, a National Zakat philanthropic institution committed to serving and spreading smiles to those in need, especially in rural areas throughout Indonesia.

While preaching should never stop, the role of preachers, who carry out the community's mandate to teach knowledge, must also be considered. Preaching in rural or remote areas requires more energy. Being a preacher in remote and isolated areas is not easy. Mental readiness and mastery of knowledge are essential.

Dompet Dhuafa exists as a platform to assist rural preachers while spreading kindness and empowering underprivileged communities in need. Dompet Dhuafa has been active in the archipelago for 31 years. Various outreach and charity programs have been implemented for those in need. Its presence among impoverished communities is like an oasis in the middle of the Sahara desert.

"Empowering the poor can't be half-hearted. It must be done to the fullest. They need a helping hand from philanthropists," said a friend I contacted in Serang, Banten. The assistance he received has been a significant help to his family and his university studies.

To date, Dompet Dhuafa has expanded its reach with a variety of caring programs. These programs include sharing smiles with the poor and underprivileged families, providing assistance to orphans, community empowerment, campus economic empowerment, and even providing educational scholarships for those living in marginalized areas and those with disabilities. background low economic but achievers in the academic world.

Of course, the economic growth gap experienced by marginalized communities in remote areas of the country is a primary target of the Dompet Dhuafa program. Moreover, considering the current economic conditions among the poor, it is so difficult to alleviate. Marginalized communities must truly strive. survive (survive) the economic pressures that are getting tighter by the day.

Today, people living under economic pressure need concrete action from aid agencies, and Dompet Dhuafa is here to share smiles and amazement. Dompet Dhuafa's concrete actions can provide hope and happiness among them, especially to poor and underprivileged families with children and students studying at various universities.

Dompet Dhuafa then turned this opportunity into a flagship program, providing scholarships to support educational studies and business capital. Several national universities partnering with Dompet Dhuafa have also seen the positive impact of this program, creating a creative economy managed by students at partner campuses. Please access https://www.dompetdhuafa.org/ to see activities.

Hard work, smart work, and above all, sincere work have truly made Dompet Dhuafa a philanthropic institution and a National Zakat Collection institution trusted by the community. Five flagship programs in an effort to eradicate poverty are truly implemented. The five pillars of Dompet Dhuafa's flagship programs are: First, health services. Second, Economic empowerment. Third, educational assistance. Fourth, social activities and fifth, preaching and cultural programs.

The implementation of Dompet Dhuafa programs is certainly due to the noble ideals of its founder, the good intention to share and help underprivileged people in remote villages so that they have hope for life in the future.

Happy 31st birthday, Dompet Dhuafa. May you never tire of spreading kindness to those in need.

#This article is entered in a competition organized by "Dompet Dhuafa" Serving the Community