Cak Sugeng’s Success Story: Alhamdulillah, Allah Answered My Prayer Through YBM BRILiaN

MOJOKERTO — Owning a flock of sheep has long been Cak Sugeng’s (43) dream. However, financial constraints have prevented him from realizing that dream.

His income as a janitor at the Padusan hot springs tourist area in Mojokerto isn’t enough to cover daily expenses. He still has to find additional work to supplement his family’s income.

Despite this, Cak Sugeng has never given up hope. He continues to pray that one day he will be able to own his own flock. That hope finally began to materialize through the Family Strengthening (FS) program run by YBM BRILiaN RO Surabaya.

Entering his second year in the program, Cak Sugeng joined the Mustahik Income Generating Program (MIGP). Through this program, he received business capital in the form of a female sheep and a ram. This assistance marked the beginning of his livestock business—a dream he had long held but could only imagine.

Perseverance in Developing a Livestock Business

For 1.5 years, Cak Sugeng has diligently cared for his livestock. Every day before leaving for work and after returning home, he takes the time to gather grass and clean the pens.

His eldest son, who is still in junior high school, helps with these tasks. They maintain this simple routine to ensure their livestock remain healthy and comfortable.

From the three breeding cows, his herd has produced 18 calves. This growth is closely tied to the three principles Cak Sugeng learned through livestock training at BRILiaN Farm.

First, he diligently checks the livestock’s health every day. If any animal is sick, he treats it immediately.

Second, he implements a measured feeding regimen. He pays special attention to breeding females that are pregnant or nursing.

Third, he records the mating dates and estimated birth dates. With these records, he can monitor the does’ conditions and reduce the risk of calf mortality at birth.

Currently, four of his female animals are also pregnant and are expected to give birth in stages. If each female gives birth to two calves, his herd could potentially grow by eight animals.

Livestock as a Lifeline and New Hope

For Cak Sugeng, the growth of his livestock business is more than just an increase in the number of animals. Now, he has a lifeline, additional income, and pride in the results of his hard work.

From a simple pen in a corner of the village, he has begun to build greater hope for his family. While participating in the YBM BRILiaN monitoring and evaluation activity in Padusan, Pacet, Mojokerto Regency, on Tuesday (November 3), Cak Sugeng expressed his gratitude.

“Owning sheep has been my dream for a long time. However, my family’s financial situation hadn’t allowed me to make it a reality. My income as a janitor at the Padusan hot springs wasn’t enough to cover our daily needs. I had to find additional work to supplement my income. Buying even a single sheep seemed impossible. But I always prayed to Allah SWT because I believe that Allah is the Provider of Sustenance,” he said.

She also recalled the moment when she received the livestock assistance from YBM BRILiaN.

“Alhamdulillah, through YBM BRILiaN’s MIG Family Strengthening program, the prayers I’d been offering for years were finally answered by Allah SWT. When I received the livestock assistance—three ewes and two rams—it felt like a dream. I couldn’t hold back my tears. Deep in my heart, I knew this was the answer to my long-held prayers,” he said.

Cak Sugeng’s story is a prime example of the impact of productive zakat in supporting the business development of zakat recipients. YBM BRILiaN, through its FS and MIGP programs, does more than just provide capital assistance; it also equips beneficiaries with training and business mentoring.

May the zakat contributions from BRI employees—collected and managed by YBM BRILiaN—continue to foster hope, strengthen family economies, and serve as a source of ongoing charitable reward for all donors.