By: Dr. Abdul Wadud Nafis, Lc., MEI
A youth movement cannot be built on enthusiasm alone; it requires strong cadres, solid values, and a clear orientation of service. In the context of GP Ansor, cadre development and khidmah (service) are two essential foundations for creating an organization that is not only active internally but also capable of providing tangible benefits to society.
The theme “Strengthening Cadres, Upholding Service, Realizing an Impactful Ansor Lumajang” contains a strategic vision. There are three interconnected keywords: cadres, service, and impact. Strong cadres will produce quality service, and quality service will generate a positive impact on society.
- Strengthening Cadres: Building a Generation with Character and Competence
Cadres are the heart of an organization. An organization will be strong if it has cadres with a solid ideology, noble character, broad insight, adequate competence, and loyalty to the organization’s struggle.
Strengthening the cadres of GP Ansor Lumajang must not stop at formal and administrative activities. Cadres must be prepared to become a generation capable of reading the changes of the times while remaining firmly rooted in Islamic values and the traditions of Ahlussunnah wal Jamaah.
Today’s Ansor cadres face far more complex challenges. Digital transformation, social change, economic development, artificial intelligence, disruption in the world of work, shifting youth culture, and various social issues require cadres who are capable of critical thinking and adaptability.
Therefore, cadre development should be directed toward developing several key capacities:
· Spiritual strength, so that cadres have integrity and moral fortitude.
· Intellectual strength, to understand issues critically and objectively.
· Organizational strength, to lead and work collectively.
· Entrepreneurial strength, to create economic independence.
· Digital strength, to utilize technology for da’wah and empowerment.
· Social strength, to be present and solve community problems.
Thus, Ansor cadres are not merely organizational activists but also community leaders, economic drivers, educators, preachers, professionals, and problem solvers.
- Upholding Service: The Organization as a Path of Devotion
Khidmah is not just an organizational activity. It is a life orientation to give benefit to others.
In the Nahdlatul Ulama tradition, service has a spiritual dimension. Organizing is not merely for obtaining positions, popularity, or personal interests, but as a means to bring about public welfare (maslahah).
Therefore, Ansor cadres need to build the paradigm:
“Organizing is not to be served, but to serve.”
The higher one’s position in the organization, the greater the responsibility to provide service to cadres and the community.
Khidmah must be manifested in various fields of life. Ansor Lumajang can be present in education, economic empowerment, social affairs, religious life, youth development, environmental issues, public health, technology, and disaster management.
Lumajang Regency has great potential while also facing various social and economic challenges. Therefore, Ansor’s service must be able to address the real needs of the community, especially those who require assistance and empowerment.
Ideal khidmah is not merely “being present in activities,” but “being present to solve problems.”
- Realizing an Impactful Ansor Lumajang
The word “impactful” is a crucial part of this theme. An organization should not be judged merely by the number of activities it conducts, but by the extent of the benefits felt by the community.
Ansor Lumajang needs to build an organizational culture that is impact-oriented, not merely activity-oriented.
Many activities do not necessarily produce change. Conversely, one well-designed program, implemented consistently and solving community problems, can have a far greater impact.
Therefore, every program should ideally answer three questions:
· What problem are we trying to solve?
· What program are we implementing?
· What change is being produced?
With this approach, GP Ansor Lumajang can develop measurable and sustainable programs.
For example, in the economic field, Ansor does not merely hold entrepreneurship seminars but builds an entrepreneurial ecosystem for cadres. In education, it does not just conduct training but develops programs to enhance youth competence. In social affairs, it does not merely provide temporary aid but develops sustainable community empowerment.
- Ansor and Cadre Economic Independence
One of the biggest challenges for young people is economic issues. Cadres need space to grow and develop independently.
Therefore, strengthening the economic capacity of cadres must be a key part of the Ansor Lumajang movement.
Cadres can be directed to develop young entrepreneurship, MSMEs, cooperatives, digital economy, pesantren-based businesses, modern agriculture, creative economy, and social entrepreneurship.
The spirit is not merely profit-seeking but building an economy with social value.
Thus, Ansor cadres can become:
economically independent, spiritually strong, professional in their work, and beneficial to society.
- Ansor in the Digital Era
Today’s youth live in a digital ecosystem. Therefore, organizations that wish to remain relevant must adapt to technological developments.
Ansor Lumajang needs to make technology an instrument of struggle and service.
Social media can be used for da’wah, education, activity publication, cadre MSME development, digital literacy, and building communication with the community.
However, digitalization must not cause cadres to lose their character. Technology must be a tool, not an end.
Cadres must be a generation that is technologically literate while also strong in ethics.
In facing the era of artificial intelligence, for example, cadres need to understand technology while also having the ability to distinguish true and false information, maintain communication ethics, protect privacy, and use technology for the common good.
- From Cadre Development to Leadership
Good cadre development must produce future leaders.
Ansor Lumajang must prepare cadres not only to lead the organization but also to fill various leadership spaces in society: government, education, economy, national politics, business, pesantren, social institutions, and various professions.
Cadre leadership must be built on four characteristics:
integrity, competence, role modeling, and service.
A leader with competence but without integrity will lose trust. A leader with integrity but without competence will struggle to handle complex problems. Therefore, both must go hand in hand.
Moreover, Ansor leaders must be exemplary in character and service.
- Building Collaboration for Lumajang
Ansor cannot work alone. Community problems are too complex to be solved by a single organization.
Therefore, GP Ansor Lumajang needs to build collaboration with local government, pesantren, madrasahs, universities, businesses, youth organizations, social institutions, community groups, and various other stakeholders.
Collaboration will make the movement broader and more sustainable.
The spirit is:
“Together building Lumajang, without losing identity and the values of the struggle.”
Ansor must become a bridge that connects the potential of its cadres with the needs of the community.
Closing
“Strengthening Cadres, Upholding Service, Realizing an Impactful Ansor Lumajang” is not merely an inauguration slogan. It must become a compass for the struggle.
Strengthening cadres means building people who are faithful, knowledgeable, of good character, competent, independent, and adaptive.
Upholding service means returning the organization to its true essence as a space for devotion and service.
Realizing an impactful Ansor Lumajang means ensuring that every energy, program, and struggle of the organization produces tangible benefits for the community.
In the end, Ansor’s success is not only when its organization grows larger, but when its presence is increasingly felt.
Not only when its cadres become more numerous, but when the quality of its cadres grows stronger.
Not only when its activities become busier, but when the community increasingly feels their benefits.
From Lumajang, we hope to give birth to young cadres who can become a generation of service, an independent generation, a digital generation, and a leadership generation that brings the values of Islam rahmatan lil ‘alamin (a mercy to all worlds) in social, national, and state life.
Strengthening cadres.
Upholding service.
Realizing an Ansor Lumajang that truly makes an impact.
Wallāhu a’lam biṣ-ṣawāb (And God knows best).