By : Ponco Nugroho, Program Manager MM

Ikhtiar Swadaya Mitra (ISM), begun in the year of 2000. ISM is a name for faciliated group/economic institution of Dompet Dhuafa. The term “ikhtiar” does not merely mean “efforts”, but also having a meaning of “prayer”. Why? It is because ISMs consist of poor people that have less skills. The management of ISMs, mostly are elementary graduated, some are not even graduate and the highest education they have is Junior High School. With this limited skills, the management of ISM have to manage community groups. This is a big challenge for MM (Masyarakat Mandiri), on how to improve their capacities in all aspects needed such as technical and management skills, leadership, motivation and team work.

The Third National Meeting of ISMs was about to strengthen the common committment, especially for the ISMs that have quite a long time joining the facilitation of MM and being self-sustained/ independent. ISMs have been able to break through the tradition and keengganan dhuafas to be involved in an organisation. Before, they tended to work separately, individual, not in a group, not sharing the experiences, not familiar with the syariah financial system and not familiar with institution/organization because they were not being directly and actively involved.

Recent time, slowly but sure, through  intensive interactions, they are getting familiar with syariah financial system, being leaders as well as being acitve members in the groups, eager to work and helping each other, although with capabilities that need to be improved. ISM UMMI Cianjur for example, it is now the only cooperative that managing funds based on syariah system with total asset Rp. 84 million and serves its 179 members ; ISM Manggar Sari, Pacitan, has developed other business beside brown sugar which is cow fattening-up with total asset Rp. 228 million and serves its 154 members; ISM Buana Jaya serves its 103 members that live in the Sangga Buana Mountain foot with total asset Rp. 193 million; ISM Petik Tangerang started its activity as livestock cooperative and becoming one of the best cooperative in national level. And there are many other ISMs that starting to metamorph to be syariah based cooperative.

Have our ISMs succeeded?  They have not for sure. From the age of their organisation, they are still young (in growing phase). Besides, they are still having limited skills. This is the one that needed to be strengthened by anyone (researchers, government agencies, volunteers or any other party). They dream is to create the ISMs as economic institutions that could help the village communities improving their income, becoming learning places/school for powerless communities, sustainable and having strong characters. The choice of syariah based financial system has become committment in the 3rd ISM National Meeting, so that the word “Ikhtiar” in the context of ISM is seriously trying hard through efforts that suited with the norms of Allah SWT. The word “Swadaya” is the representative of togetherness and the word “Mitra” is equal in meaning. We all hope that someday ISMs become equal partners. Equal because of its strong character.

Waallahu ‘alam.