MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA—Muhammadiyah is the first Islamic organization to have four universities in Papua.
They are Universitas Muhammadiyah Sorong, Universitas Pendidikan Muhammadiyah Sorong, Universitas Muhammadiyah Papua, and Institut Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan Muhammadiyah Maumere.
Muhammadiyah is welcomed in Papua because this movement attempts to unite with Papuans.
President of Muhammadiyah Haedar Nashir mentioned this organization gets close to the Papuan people through tangible actions and empowerment. Indeed, Muhammadiyah has existed since 1926.
According to Haedar Nashir, Muhammadiyah is well-known as a pioneer in inclusively educating the people. All Muhammadiyah actions are real, not rhetoric.
“Muhammadiyah has a strong cultural history of how this movement can unite with Papuan people and grasp their characters,” said Haedar Nashir.
Muhammadiyah also built schools, health centers, and social services in Papua.
Besides, Muhammadiyah empowers the Papuan people. “Although Muhammadiyah believes a religion different from Papuans’ belief and comes from Java, they remain to welcome this movement,” said Haedar Nashir.
Muhammadiyah’s empowerment was undertaken in Warmon, Kokoda, Sorong. As an inland tribe “driven out” of forests, the Kokoda tribe became an isolated community amidst the development of Papua.
Afterward, Muhammadiyah provided them land and trained them in farming, gardening, and animal husbandry.
Haedar, the Professor of Sociology, said that the government should adopt Muhammadiyah’s non-military approach to foster and equalize development in Papua and other regions.
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