Jakarta, 8 December 2023 – PT Unilever Indonesia, Tbk through Wipol and Sunlight, is strengthening cooperation with the Indonesian Council of Mosques (DMI) through the "Gerakan Masjid Bersih" program. Through the signing of a new memorandum of understanding (MoU), both parties will collaborate again in the ‘Gerakan Masjid Bersih 2024' to encourage the establishment of cleanliness, hygiene and prosperity of 50,000 mosques in various parts of Indonesia, especially in preparing for the holy month of Ramadan.
Initiated in 2017, 'Gerakan Masjid Bersih' is an ongoing social initiative to encourage the establishment of clean and comfortable mosques for Muslims across Indonesia. Until now, with the support of more than 150,000 volunteers, 175,000 mosques in various parts of Indonesia have received positive benefits from this program.
Dr. (H.C.) Drs. H. Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, Chairman of the DMI Central Board said: "Every time we pray, we first have to do ablution to clean ourselves; but of course it is not enough if we only clean ourselves: the place where we pray must also be clean. It means that it is our duty as an act of worship to continuously maintain its goodness and sustainability. Especially in this situation, where our health must be cared for as well as possible. The mosque is a place of worship; if it is not clean, not only will the worship be less meaningful, but there will also be health impacts. We have experienced how life must be clean to prevent many diseases after the COVID pandemic, and this has been a great lesson for all of us. Therefore, on behalf of the Indonesian Mosque Council, I would like to thank Unilever. Hopefully, we can continue and even improve this cooperation in the future."
Drs. H. Andi Mappaganty, MM, Chairperson of DMI's Humanitarian Social Division also commented: "When we held the Rakernas of the DMI, during which participants came from all over Indonesia, each Chairman of the Regional Leadership Council expressed their gratitude and welcomed this cooperation. Especially before the holy month of Ramadan, worshipers feel calm because the mosque is clean, so they are comfortable to perform tarawih, qiyamul-lail, recite the Quran, and so on."
The ‘Gerakan Masjid Bersih 2024' will soon be held to prepare for the upcoming month of Ramadan, a holy month where Muslims will flock to mosques to meet each other and worship. Of course, ensuring the cleanliness and hygiene of the mosque is an important key so that all activities that take place in it become safer and more comfortable.
On the sidelines of the event, Anggya Kumala, Head of Home & Hygiene Unilever Indonesia stated: "We really appreciate the collaboration that has been established with DMI since 2017 through the ‘Gerakan Masjid Bersih’ program. As a result of the positive impacts and benefits that have been felt from this program, Insha Allah the number of mosques that receive benefits will be expanded, with a target of reaching 50,000 mosques in various parts of Indonesia. Thus, it is hoped that more Muslims will fill the mosques in the month of Ramadan because their mosques will be cleaner and more hygienic thanks to the distribution of hygiene products and devices as well as education on maintaining cleanliness in the mosque area."
Led by two brands that are very close to people's daily lives, Wipol and Sunlight, the Gerakan Masjid Bersih 2024’ will be held to maintain the cleanliness and hygiene of mosques more thoroughly while involving consumer participation to share kindness. The programs that will be carried out include:
- Welcoming the month of Ramadan by conducting mosque cleaning activities with the mosque caretakers and local residents in five grand mosques in five cities spread throughout Indonesia, from the West to the East of the archipelago
- Donating hygiene product packages to 50,000 mosques spread across various regions of Indonesia along with PHBS education materials so that worshipers can apply these good habits not only in mosques, but also in their homes
- Donating 2.5% of the profit from the sale of Wipol and Sunlight products in several retail partners to DMI through BAZNAS. The proceeds from these donations will be used to enliven and bring prosperity to the mosques through the provision of hygiene product packages and iftar packages, which are expected to further strengthen Ukhuwah Islamiyah among the Muslim community
- "Thank you again for the support of DMI and all parties involved in implementating the ‘Gerakan Masjid Bersih’ program. We hope that this program will continue to play its role in spreading goodness and benefits for all Muslims in Indonesia," Anggya concluded.