MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – Responding to the call from the 48th Congress (Muktamar) to enhance family well-being, the Regional Board of Nasyiatul Aisyiyah (PWNA) of the Special Territory of Yogyakarta inaugurated the Family Learning Center. The official launch occurred at the Muhammadiyah Expo Jogja 2023 on Saturday (November 25), marking the center as a pivotal hub for family consultation and counseling.
The Family Learning Center aims to actively involve Muhammadiyah, ‘Aisyiyah, and all Muhammadiyah Youth Movement (AMM) members in addressing family-related issues. These include addressing household vulnerabilities, minimizing divorces, tackling domestic violence, and combating bullying through dedicated counseling and consultation services.
Abdul Mu’ti, the General Secretary of the Muhammadiyah, expressed his commendation for the initiative, emphasizing its significant contribution to family welfare. He underscored its crucial role in reinforcing the objectives of the government’s BP4 program (Marriage Counseling and Preservation Board), led by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
“I believe this is a very commendable program because one of the challenges in contemporary society is the high divorce rate. In many modern young families, this is prevalent. In developed countries like the United States (US), for instance, 40% of marriages end in divorce. I think this is something we cannot consider normal, even though divorce is permissible; it is not favored by Allah,” said Mu’ti.
Mu’ti suggested the Family Learning Center provide opportunities for ta’aruf (Islamic introduction) for young individuals seeking life partners. Regarding counseling, he recommended online services, emphasizing the need for adaptability in addressing the unique challenges posed by modern society.
“If we can offer online counseling, I believe it can be an asset for us to become attentive listeners. The issue in modern society is its tendency to be individualistic that people are not concerned with others’ problems and are unwilling to listen to others’ issues,” said Mu’ti.
Mu’ti also envisioned the Family Learning Center becoming a bastion of Islamic values, playing a pivotal role in addressing family resilience concerns. Given the rising prevalence of modern parenting trends that align with moral principles, the center may assist the community in building strong, peaceful, virtuous, and caring families.
“I believe this represents the profile of a resilient Muhammadiyah family, namely peacefulness, virtuousness, and caring,” said Mu’ti.
Launching the Family Learning Center is a crucial step towards realizing these aspirations, marking a commitment to strengthening families and promoting well-being within the community.
