MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, WAKATOBI – Muhammadiyah presence in Wakatobi aims to bring benefits to the local community through education, community development, and cultural preservation.
One of Muhammadiyah programs is through a community service by Muhammadiyah university students.
Recently, together with the locals living in Mola Nelayan Bakti, Wakatobi, Sulawesi Tenggara, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) students associated with a community service team, Tapak Pengabdi Khatulistiwa (Tabik) of Generation 4, celebrated the 79th Independence Day of Indonesia by conducting a cultural arts festival.
“To reduce waste and promote cleanliness, the festival was held on floating platforms using boats,” said Chair of the Tabik of UMY Lutfi Hidayat on Monday, August 19.
The festival featured traditional Bajo dances, martial arts, and boat-pulling competitions.
Meanwhile, Rector of the Institut Teknologi dan Bisnis Muhammadiyah (ITBM) Wakatobi Arusani said, “The community service demonstrates that Muhammadiyah exists in a remote area.”
Muhammadiyah in Wakatobi
In the realm of higher education, the ITB of Wakatobi has opened doors for local residents seeking to pursue higher education. The establishment of ITBM has provided a valuable educational opportunity for the people of Wakatobi, who previously had to travel to other regions for pursuing higher education.
Although the ITBM Wakatobi has been established for four years, the higher education institution has brought benefits to people.
“We hope for support from various elements of Muhammadiyah, such as UMY through its community program. Muhammadiyah influence will continue to grow in Wakatobi,” said Arusani.
Besides, Muhammadiyah has SMA Muhammadiyah 1 Wakatobi, a unique school located over the sea in Mola Nelayan Bakti Village. The school offers stunning views of the vast ocean and has become a popular choice for students from the coastal areas of Wangi-wangi Island.
