YOGYAKARTA – Universitas Gadjah Mada and the National Zakat Agency (BAZNAS) organises a social event to distribute the zakat in the form of free health services, donation for 1 million of books, and blood donor on Saturday, (24/11) in Grha Sabha Pramana. The kick off of 1 miilion of books donation is held at UGM which will then collect books for one year in 12 major cities. The books will be distributed to education programmes run by Baznas in each city.
The books are collected from students and the general public. The committe provides boxes for book collection in a number of strategc locations, such as campus, mall, school and and other strategic places. “The book which have been recorded are distributed to those who need them. So far, as many as 319 books have been collected,” a member of the committee, Adi Prabowo, said.
Vice Rector for Research and Community Services of UGM, Prof. Dr. Suratman, M.Sc., said the activity in cooperation with Baznas is one of UGM’s cares to community education. He hoped this would inspire other programmes in public facilities in Yogyakarta, such as offices, malls, restaurants, etc. “There will be data collection and selection of books that are collected,” he said.
Executive Director of Baznas, Teten Setiawan, said the free health service and blood donor on the UGM campus is one way to distribute zakat to the underprivilege, it's also calls for the haves to give zakat to official zakat organisations. “Through charity and empowerment, zakat can help the underprivilege to improve their lives,” he said.