Baznas plans Pesantren for the Marginalized program in Jakarta

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s National Alms Agency (Baznas) is preparing to launch the Pesantren for the Marginalized program in Jakarta during the upcoming Ramadan month to to promote social equality and justice among citizens.

A pesantren usually refers to an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia.

“In principle, we seek to embrace everyone. Baznas prioritizes inclusiveness in its preaching and educational activities so that those marginalized by their environment are not left forgotten,” Deputy II of Baznas Imdadun Rahmat noted in the agency’s statement cited here on Friday.

Rahmat made this statement during a technical workshop on Wednesday (February 26) attended by representatives from 35 Islamic missionary institutions partnering with Baznas for the program.

According to Rahmat, the program, scheduled to run from March 5 to 27, will take place across Jakarta and offer a range of educational, religious, and empowerment activities for approximately 1,500 individuals from marginalized communities.

"Those classified as marginalized include street children, punk community members, urban poor residents, scavengers, and individuals with visual, hearing, and speech disabilities," he explained.

The official further highlighted that based on available data, about 60 percent of the 16 thousand street children in Jakarta lack access to formal education.

In response, Baznas aims to engage these children through educational activities during the fasting month.

“We will establish a mobile pesantren, reaching out to these children and providing psychosocial support. This approach will allow us to involve them in educational and religious activities,” Rahmat noted.

With regard to Jakarta residents often being labeled as punks, Rahmat noted that Baznas plans to organize training sessions to develop their entrepreneurial skills and other useful competencies as part of the program.

He revealed that the agency plans to support scavengers and provide them with assistance in the form of capital to run halal businesses.

Rahmat emphasized that all initiatives under this program are designed to reconnect marginalized groups with society and ensure they have access to educational and religious services.