Another side of PresidentAhmedinejad

No one is perfect, including the President Ahmedinejad. Many attacks, particularly from the West, addressed to him. Nevertheless, many interesting side of President Ahmedinejad that could be useful for us to imitate. Here are some of them:

1. At the first time occupied the office of President, he donated all very expensive Iranian carpets to a mosque in Tehran and replacing it with regular carpet easy to be cleaned. 

2. He saw there is a very large space to accept and respect the VIP guests, and he ordered to close the room and ordered the protocol to replace it with a normal room with two wooden chairs, even a simple still looks attractive.
3. In many instances he was being friendly with the cleaning service persons and security guards around the home and the office of President.
4. He requested all ministers to sign integrity pacts, for a simple life. Their personal property including their close relatives are monitored.
5. The first step after his appointment as a president, he declared his wealth. His property consists of a Peugeot 504 car in 1977, a legacy of his father's modest home 40 years ago in the slums of Tehran. His savings in bank was samll, and only came from one source which is his monthly salary.
6. His salary as a university lecturer amounted to only U.S. $ 250.
7. He lives in his house. Only that it he owned.
8. One thing that makes the admiration to his staff is he always brought a meal box every day which is filled by breakfast sandwich or a cheese bread that his wife prepared.
9. He changed the presidential aircraft to cargo planes. He himself  used regular economy class flights.
10. Simplify the palace protocol. Reduce the habit of ceremonies like the red carpet, photo sessions, personal publicity, or so he has more time to visit various places in the country.
11. If forced to stay at a hotel, he asked to be given a room without a bed that is not too large because he does not like sleeping on a mattress, but would rather sleep on the floor lined with carpets and blankets.
12. Iran president sleeps in the living room of his house after the last guard who always follow him. left. According Wifaq newspaper, the photos taken by his brother, and then spreaded throughout the world, including the United States.
13. He seldom sit in front row during the prayer in congregation. Even when the sound azan, he continued to pray everywhere, though only the usual carpet lined.
14. He does not want to shake hands with a woman who is not his "muhrim", simply bow the head in respect.

Salam 

Kiswanti, ordinary people with extraordinary achievements

I am impressed very much by Kiswanti, now 44 years of old, a mother of 2 children. She was born to a poor family Her father was a bechak (rickshaw) driver and her mother was a traditional herbal medicine seller. She is only elementary (6 yeras) school graduate, and  she  used to be a domestic helper as well. However, she managed to establish a mini library, and provides computer and English courses for free of charge to poor children in her neighborhood.

Kiswanti was not able to continue her study to secondary school because of economic reason. Her father did not have enough money to pay for her tuition fees. Her father, then, bought used books to enable her to do self study. From then she fond of books very much.

At the age of 17 years old, in 1987, she went to Jakarta to work as a domestic helper, where then she met Ngatimin, who later became her husband. When Ngatimin asked her to marry him, she only asked one pre-requsite. She should be allowed to pursue her dream to establish a library. She saved some money from her salary as a domestic helper to buy books. Several years later, in 1994, the couple managed to buy a small land in Pemagarsari Village, Parung Subdistrict, about 25 km south of Jakarta. She started her dream to have a library. In the begining, she used to ride a bicycle to go around to surrounding villages to sell herbal medicine (jamu) and lend her books free of charge. Many children were very enthutiastic to see her. She spent a big portion of her income to buy books. Only later, after newpapers and other mass media covered her activities, many donors came to support her. She was very grateful because one donor gave scholarship for her son to study at a university.

Later, in 2004, with helped from donors, she built a small room for her mini library. The name of the mini library is Warung Baca Lebak Wangi (waralabal) or Lebak Wangi Reading Kiosk. Currently, there are about 7,500 books in the library and around 5000 members. With the help of some volunteers, the library also provides English course, traditional dance course and private tutorial for students. Kiswanti is a real hero in a country where book is not easily available.

Monthly report: September 2010

In the period of 1-30 September 2010, there were 84 general outpatient visits, 10 family planning visits and 7 ante natal care visits in Umiyah Clinic. All services provided were free of charge. In the same period, about Rp 8.5 millions (almost equal to US$ 944) were received from individual donors, and Rp 425,000 were received from the patients who put their donation into the alms box voluntarily. In September 2010, Umiyah Clinic spent about Rp 7,037,000 on its operational costs. Alhamdulillah, thanks God, until now, the first three months of its operation, Umiyah Clinic never experiences financial deficit. All of the operational costs had been covered by donation, boths from donors and from the patinets.

 I wish all donors and staffs from Umiyah Clinic will  get rewards from God the Almighty. ameen.

Monthly report: August 2010

In second month of its operation, Umiyah Clinic provided services to 93 out patient visits, 4 family planning visits, 6 ante natal care visits, and 1 normal delive. All of the services provided were free of charge. The patients did not pay for the services. However, voluntarily, they put small amount of money into alms box. In August 2010, Umiyah Clinic received Rp 6,900,000 (equal to US$ 766) from individual donors and company, and received Rp 325,000 (equal to US$ 36) from patients through their voluntary donation into the alms box. In the same period, Umiyah clinic spend about Rp 5,113,000 (equal to US$ 568) for operational costs. Development costs during that period were not included in this report because those expenses have been covered directly by the founders of the Ummy Foundation. Umiyah Clinic has laso received a printer as donation from a comapny "Setia Jaya".

I hope all the donors will get rewards from God the Almighty as stated in the Quran Albaqarah 261.

Monthly report: July 2010

In July 2010, the first month of starting its operations,  Umiyah Clinic has provided services to 55 general out patient visits, 4 family planning visits, 7  ante natal care visits, and 1 normal delivery. All of those services were provided  free of charge, except small donation put into alm box voluntarily. Even though we did not specifically checked their economic status, but from their appearance, it seems that all patients came from poor families who live in surrounding villages.
During the period of 1-31 July 2010, the Umiyah Clinic got Rp 8,6 millions (about US$ 955) from donation, and Rp 319,000 (about US$ 354) from patients through alm box donation. Total opeerational expenses for the same period were Rp 8,525,100 (about US 947). Umiyah Clinic also received in kind donation, 2 wall clocks and sajadah for the prayer room.
Thank you very much for your supports. I believe that God will reward you as stated in the Al Quran Al Baqarah 261: "The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allâh, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allâh gives manifold increase to whom He wills. And Allâh is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower"

Extraordinary Islamic Boarding Schools

Pondok Pesantren—Indonesia’s Islamic boarding schools—are normally quiet and orderly places, devoted to study and prayer. Metallica Islamic Boarding School or Pondok Pesantren Metal, however, is something completely different. The Pesantren Metal was established in 1999 on the endowed land over 9.5 hectares. Initially, the school specializes in teaching student ensnared in drug cases. However, in its development, some premarital pregnant women and mentally ill are accomodated in this boarding school. Currently, majority of the "students" are mentally ill patients.
Drug addicts who was successfully rehabilitated in Metal Islamic Boarding School were several hundres, and about 700 mentally ill were recovered.  The students who majority are long-haired young man dressed casually often go to look for a mentally ill  in the street.  The mentally ill will be taken to the boarding schools and shaved and bathed.There is no method or specific drugs to treat patients, both for students who experience mental illness and drug addiction. They just treated like a sane person and aim solely to humanize them. Abu Bakar Kholil, founder of the Metal Islamic Boarding School said: "They are equally human, if treated like a normal person in general, insha Allah (God willing), they will be healed or normal again". In the School, mentally ill students are treated, cleaned and given proper clothing as much as anyone who are sane.

Another extra ordinary Islamic Boarding School is Pesantren Millinium (not millennium). In the boarding area of 79 x 20 meter, Muhammad Khoirul Sholeh Effendie, founder of the Pesantren, teach and care about 150 orphans and destitute for free of charge. The students came from various regions in the country, particularly East Java and Bali. Balinese children.  In mid-August 2006 then the Balinese students became a majority. They are generally new converts to Islam. 
"Millinnium in Javanese means flowing, It. has very deep meaning. I want the students can learn and practice consistently Islamic values in their life," explained Khoirul. "Do you know  who built this building? It was actually the babies" he said casually. Khoirul added, "I believe that all babies have their own sustenance. Well, every time a baby is thrown out, then we take care of, then the donation is always flowing in."
Established in 1990, the Millinium Islamic Boarding School was originally had only seven students. The building was very modest, similar to other's people home in that village. No one knows if the School were going to grow rapidly as it is now.

Ordinary people who do extra ordinary things(2)

In Indonesia there are the twins moms, ordinary people who do extra ordinary. They are Sri Rosiati (Rosi) and Sri Irianingsih (Rian). Rian who was once a successful businessman property and Ross, a doctor has decided to help children to get education. Starting from just opened an informal school to teach reading and writing, are now the two women who fondly called Mother Twins had managed to open the Temporary School from kindergarten to elementary school. The school is not only to provide learning facilities for free but also a center for improving the quality of life of children. The two women claimed that they never know exactly how much money they have to spend to take care of thousands of poor children which had indeed been acknowledged publicly. Twin mothers and Kartini Temporary School has been very popular even phenomenal. Thousands of children from proletarian families have managed to find back their future hopes. In 2004, no less than 2,000 children enrolled at the Kartini School. Education has provided an alternative for children who previously did not have many options for their future knitting it. Their actions deserved thumbs up. Understandably, the twin mothers often visited their five temporary school property. In fact, they were also taught. Amazingly, for all those school activities, the Twins digged out their own pocket..
The twin mothers have been going distance when the others just talk. Let us follow in their footsteps, the footsteps of those who dare to take the path that is rarely travelled, in the steep lane which goes up and difficult.

The third baby delivered in Umiyah Clinic

Picture (left) was the third baby delivered in Umiyah Clinic. This is happened because of your financial and other supports provided to Umiyah Clinic. May Allah bless you all.

The first baby delivered in Umiyah Clinic

Thanks God. Since its opening in 11th July 2010, there were two babies have been delivered in the Umiyah Clinic. The Picture (left) is the photo of the happy family and their baby.

Experience of Giving

My close friend send a short paper  about his experiences give alms. Hopefully helpful and we all can emulate. amen
First, I wrote this experience not for show off, far from it. My intention,  first is as a manifestation of gratitude for the gift of God Almighty. Second, by sharing experiences, I wish I will get a reward as well. I believe that if the reader willing to follow my steps, the same results or even greater can be achieved. Just do it! Give alms, God's help will come.

Looking backward on the journey of my life, there are some milestones that I think those were the basis for progress for  the next stage. The first milestone was when my wife and I gave our savings to repair our parents' homes. At that time, caround early 1990s, I was still living in a simple house  type 70 in South Tangerang. When our savings reached approximately USD 3000, my wife and I had a discussion. What to do with the money. Whether these savings are used to rehabilitate our simple home that are still original BTN? In that year, it cost about US$ 3000 to make a concrete roof garage with one bedroom one it. One question that stuck out was, if the money used to rehabilitate our house, then when we can give to something to our parents? What is the point we give something to parents when they have gone? By creating a magnificent headstone? Finally we decided that we gave our saving to our parents with suggestions to be used to rehabilitate their homes. The money that we gave just enough to replace cement tiles with ceramic tiles.

After several years passed by, even though my house still original house, but I was able to buy another house nearby. So I had 2 houses. Both are original simple houses. In fact, not long later, I could buy another  better  house. Currently, those two houses have been used for an orphanage.

In the years 1987-1988, when Indonesia was hit by the economic crisis. I was thinking on how to make my family not affected by the crisis.  How to avoid the economic crisis? After long contemplation and reading through various books, a decision that I took at thea ttime was: withdrew the money from my savings and donated to the orphanage. As I recalled, there were about USD $ 300 I donated to some orphanages and sent to Ambon where there was community clashes. Thank God, my family was not affected by the economic crisis. When the rupiah collapsed because of economic crisis, I was assigned several times to attend meetings abroad. I stayed for  free at a friend's house. I could save my travel allowances which was more than my one month salary.
In addition, I also supported some of my relatives to cover the  their education. Alms for the orphanage, security and cleaning service in office and I did. There is one memorable experience of alms to the guard. I gave alms to the security guard (about USD 10 for each) before I was called by my direct supervisor who wanted to scold me. Instead of being scolded, I actually got the money of Rp 10 million from my direct supervisor.

One more story about charity. I said to my men: "you know why I was promoted to be your boss?". "Because I made the orphanage," I said. There were 2 people who  used to contribute the that orphange regularly. Alhamdulillah, not long after that,  both were also promoted to be director-level officials in government agencies.

Hopefully my friend's life experiences can inspire you to do charity as well. Charity always pay off.

Why establishing Umiya Clinic for the poor?

Umiya Clinic was built on 1000 sq m land endowed by the family of Mr Elok Heru Wibowo in Lugosobo Village, Purworejo, District, Central Java, Indonesia. Construction was going on slowly, but surely. It took approximately 2 years to build a core or main building (admin room and outpatient care, examination room, delivery room and wards). The Clinic was inaugurated in July 2010 eventhough the construction was not completed.

Umiya Clinic provides midwifery and general medical services, just like any other birthing center and out patient clinic in general. The difference, in Umiya Clinic there is no tariffs. Patients who come are welcome to fill in a charity box. Hopefully, that policy will reduce financial barriers for the poor to get health service .There is no complex administrative requirements required to obtain services. Simply come in and fill the charity box voluntarily. Every patientwill get a quality midwifery and general medical services. On the other hand, patients still required to fill out charity boxes within its capabilities as an instrument to encourage a sense of ownership and responsibility.

All staffs of the Umiya Clinic get salary according to the standard salary for the area Purworejo. Salaries and oprational expenses of the Umiya Clinic are covered by donation (zakat, infaq, alms from the board and donors).

We only expect God's blessing as our rewards. We expect God to bless our family with His kindness which flows to our children and grandchildren.
We manage finances in a transparent and accountable way. We are also open Umiya Clinic to every body  who wants to share and give their fortune back to the community.