Enhancing Economic Independence of Majelis Taklim Al-Amin Members through Herbal Dishwashing Soap Production Training

Abstract

Majelis Taklim is a non-formal, religion-based educational institution that plays a role in the community's religious, social, and economic empowerment. This community service activity aimed to enhance the financial independence of the members of Majelis Taklim al-amin through training on the production of herbal liquid dishwashing soap. The program was implemented over three months using a participatory approach through training and mentoring methods, which included needs identification, module development, soap-making practice, production assistance, and evaluation. The training was attended by 15 participants, consisting of administrators and active members of the majelis taklim. The training materials covered basic entrepreneurship, herbal-based soap production, business analysis, and marketing strategies. The evaluation results showed an increase in participants’ knowledge by 32 points, from an average pre-test score of 62 to a post-test score of 94. Product quality assessment obtained an average score of 4–5 on a Likert scale (1–5), indicating that the product met basic quality standards and was feasible for household-scale production. This activity also resulted in the establishment of a community-based entrepreneurship group under Majelis Taklim al-amin. The formation of this group is expected to support the continuity of production activities, facilitate collective business development, and generate sustained income for members. In the long term, the group has the potential to evolve into an independent micro-enterprise unit that strengthens local economic resilience and reinforces the role of the majelis taklim as a sustainable community empowerment institution.