Community Service: Application of Waqf Crowdfunding Based on Blockchain Technology to the Nambangan and Cumpat Fisherman Group, Kedung Cowek Village, Kenjeran District, Surabaya City.
From April to October 2019, one of the community service teams, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Airlangga , led by Prof. Dr. Raditya Sukmana, carried out a program to implement waqf crowdfunding based on blockchain technology in the Nambangan and Cumpat Fishermen's Group, Kedung Cowek Village, Kenjeran District, Surabaya City. This program was carried out considering that fishermen groups are often faced with the problem of limited capital and generally they are not yet bankable. Thus, it is difficult for them to get funds to carry out their activities as fishermen.
Cash waqf is considered to be able to be used as an alternative funding solution for fishermen. For this reason, Prof. Raditya Sukmana took the initiative to create a platform for collecting and distributing waqf funds using blockchain technology. This platform can be accessed via https://waqf.network/
This platform is structured in such a way that it makes it easier for all parties to pay cash waqf and can choose potential partners who are trusted to utilize waqf funds.
On this occasion, the first trial was carried out on the Nambangan and Cumpat fishermen groups, Kenjeran, Surabaya. The funds collected from this program are then used to purchase fishing equipment which is managed by the department store belonging to the fishing cooperative that oversees them, namely Cooperative 64 Bahari.
With these waqf funds, the fishermen group succeeded in increasing the business volume of the Department Store while making it easier for fishermen to get fishing equipment.
"With this waqf program, we fishermen no longer need to travel far to buy nets and other fishing equipment. Members of the fishermen group were very happy and grateful to the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Airlangga for their cooperation. "Hopefully this program will continue so that we become more advanced," said Ahmad Sukron, Chairman of the 64 Bahari Cooperative.
