Economic Empowerment Model in Harmonization and Deradicalization of Islamic Boarding School

Abstract

Islamic boarding schools (Pesantren) still has a negative stigma as a traditional that educates delinquents or children from a low-income family. Moreover, pesantren is a closed educational institution and is identified as a place for terrorists and radicals. The study aims to design and implement an economic empowerment model to harmonize and de-radicalize Pesantren through the Participatory Action Research method. Data were collected through documentation, interviews, observation, and Focus Group Discussion. Informants have been purposively selected. They are students, community groups, management of Pesantren, activists, practitioners, and experts of innovative empowerment. Study locations took place in Pesantren of Nurussalam in Ciamis districts, Al Idrisiyyah in Tasikmalaya districts, West Java Province, and Al Muaddib in Cilacap districts Central Java Province of Indonesia. Study analysis through the interactive model and participatory analysis. The results showed that the economic empowerment programs of Pesantren could be designed and implemented in a participatory manner involving students, alumni of the Pesantren, and the community on entrepreneurial management, product improvement, and marketing. Pesantren also could implement other innovative programs such as health, environment, and renewable energy. Finally, the economic empowerment of Pesantren should be a medium of interaction.