President Jokowi Supports the AMANAH Program as a Step Towards Optimizing the Local Economy
By: Rafi Al-Katiri
President Joko Widodo expressed full support for the AMANAH Aceh initiative, which focuses on economic empowerment through entrepreneurship training, especially in pesantren or dayah across Aceh. The program initiated by AMANAH aligns with the government’s vision to strengthen human resources (HR) in the regions, as well as to build sustainable economic independence. With programs like this, Aceh is expected to rise as an outstanding region capable of maximizing local potential and competing at the national level.
One of AMANAH’s flagship programs is Dayahpreneur, a training program aimed at creating young entrepreneurs based on Islamic boarding schools. This program facilitates students to learn entrepreneurial skills in various sectors, ranging from fisheries and agriculture to technology. The main focus of Dayahpreneur is to teach students how to run their own businesses using modern technology, enabling them to achieve economic independence after completing their education at the boarding school.
The Dayahpreneur program developed by AMANAH, focusing on vannamei shrimp farming based on the biofloc system, has garnered attention and support as a concrete step towards a more advanced Aceh. With the background of limited pond space, the aquaculture manager, Alimnur Haladin, explained that the biofloc system was chosen because it allows for cultivation to be carried out in efficient tarpaulin ponds, without requiring a large area of land.
Biofloc technology allows for cultivation to be carried out on limited land with high efficiency, making it very suitable for application in pesantren environments that may have limited land resources. With this training, the students are taught to manage cultivation enterprises independently, which is expected to become a source of income for the pesantren and the surrounding community.
The vannamei shrimp farming program is not only an innovative solution in the fisheries sector but also encompasses educational aspects and the economic empowerment of the students. Through the training conducted by AMANAH, the students are taught to independently manage aquaculture using the biofloc system, which is expected to foster an entrepreneurial spirit and encourage them to become young entrepreneurs in the future.
Alimnur Haladin also hopes that training in cultivation like this can continue to be carried out consistently, not only within the dayah but also in other institutions. The hope is that this initiative can help pesantren and local institutions to become economically independent and serve as a model for entrepreneurship development in Aceh.
Not only focusing on the fisheries sector, the Dayahpreneur program also opens opportunities for students to develop businesses in other sectors such as the creative economy. Santri from various Islamic boarding schools in Bireuen District, Aceh, are participating in sewing training. This activity is organized by AMANAH to encourage the local economy.
The leadership of Dayah Syamsul Maarif Al Ahmad, Sheikh Baihaqi, emphasizes the importance of the role of dayah in supporting the local economy through the garment business, the proceeds of which are used to assist orphans and converts to Islam. This program is expected to enhance the creativity of the students and strengthen the economy of the pesantren, with support from AMANAH in the form of sewing machine assistance.
In addition to supporting entrepreneurship training, the government is also giving serious attention to the development of infrastructure that supports programs like Dayahpreneur. One concrete step is the construction of the new AMANAH building, which is designed to be a center for training and skill development. This new building is expected to serve as a better venue for training programs such as vannamei shrimp farming and other business sectors.
In addition to economic benefits, the Dayahpreneur program also brings significant social impacts. By involving students in entrepreneurship training, Islamic boarding schools not only teach religious values but also values of independence, responsibility, and innovation. For the santri involved in this program, it is hoped that they will become agents of change capable of bringing progress to their respective communities. Through this program, they will be trained to think creatively, solve problems, and take initiative in developing sustainable businesses.
In the long term, the Dayahpreneur program supported by AMANAH and the government is expected to create a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem in Aceh. Not only will the pesantren benefit, but also the surrounding community that can get involved in the new ventures created. This economic empowerment based on pesantren will also open up new job opportunities, which will ultimately improve the overall welfare of the community.
With President Jokowi’s commitment to supporting regional economic development through the AMANAH program, such as Dayahpreneur, Aceh has a significant opportunity to become a more advanced region, both economically and socially. The synergy between the government, Islamic boarding schools, and the community is the key to realizing this vision. By leveraging local potential and providing relevant skills education, Aceh can grow as one of the highly competitive provinces at the national level.
The support provided by President Jokowi for the AMANAH Aceh program marks the beginning of a journey towards a more independent, innovative, and superior Aceh. With the spirit of collaboration and hard work from all parties, a brighter future for Aceh is no longer just a dream, but a goal that can be achieved together.
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