STF Director: Philanthropy Spurs Religious Moderation

PPIM.UINJKT.AC.ID – “Philanthropy which adopts social justice holds a great opportunity to strengthen civil society and religious moderation,” Amelia Fauzia, Director of Social Trust Fund (STF) of the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta, said on Friday (28/8).

She was speaking in a virtual seminar series of #ModerasiBeragama (Religious Moderation) themed “Generosity and Philanthropy in the Framework of Religious Moderation”, which was organized by the Center for the Study of Islam and Society (PPIM) of the UIN Jakarta, in collaboration with the STF, through Convey Indonesia program.

Amelia, who has been actively learning philanthropic studies since her master study in Australia, elaborated that social justice-based philanthropy meant the practice of philanthropy that aimed at eliminating the root causes of poverty, had long-term attention to strengthening institutions, and adopted non-discriminative universality.

“Philanthropic organizations also play significant roles in striving for religious moderation by enhancing humanitarian activism, pushing religious [mindset] of Islam rahmatan lil alamin (a blessing for the universe), and supporting the empowerment of democracy and civil society,” said the Head of the Master of History and Islamic Culture Department at the UIN Jakarta.

Amelia went on to say that the establishment of STF UIN Jakarta in 2012 was inseparable from the purposes of practicing justice-based philanthropy whilst helping students who were about to give up higher education. Several well-known figures, such as Komarudin Hidayat, Jamhari Makruf, Quraish Shihab, and Azyumardi Azra were among those listed as the founders and permanent donors of the STF. In its eighth year, the organization had participated in providing social assistance in four units – charity, advocacy, research and publication, and endowment.

“Since 2012, more than one billion funds, in the form of scholarships, have been dedicated to the UIN Jakarta,” said Amelia, who is also a Professor of Philanthropy in the university.

Amel believed that the religious-based philanthropy practices had a great possibility in alleviating poverty, as well as promoting welfare and peace. “Making philanthropy works for a better world for humanity” became her spirit to reach the goal.

The virtual seminar on Religious Moderation is held every Friday via “Convey Indonesia” official Youtube channel. Besides Amelia, the discussion that was moderated by Convey Indonesia Team Leader Jamhari Makruf also presented several figures who were actively involved in philanthropic activities, such as Abdur Rouf (Executive Director of NU Care, LazisNU), Hilman Latief  (Coordinator of PP Muhammadiyah’s LazisMu), and Haidar Bagir (Founder and Director of Mizan Group).

Writer: Tati Rohayati

Editor: M. Nida Fadlan