IAI AL-AZIS COMMUNITY SERVICE: HEALTH EDUCATION FROM LOCAL TO INTERNATIONAL
By Dewi Utami, M.Pd.& Dr.Ali Aminuloh (Lecturer at IAI Al-Azis)
Under the blazing sun of Sukajati Village, a heated discussion is taking place in the village hall. It’s not about politics or economics, but about the future of civilization: Maternal and Child Health. The IAI Al-Azis Community Service Program (KKN) students, who have been serving from January 15th to February 14th, are now the driving force behind this initiative, along with the women’s group PKK (Family Welfare Movement). They aren’t just carrying stacks of paper reports, but rather carrying a larger mission: educating the community that maintaining physical health is a tangible form of worship and gratitude to the Creator. The activity took place at the Manggis Health Post in Sukajati Village, Haurgeulis, Indramayu.
Continuing the US-Indonesia “Health Diplomacy” Relay
What happened in Sukajati today was not a spontaneous, baseless movement. The students’ confidence in educating the public is a result of IAI Al-Azis’s consistency in maintaining international standards for women’s health.
Looking back, in November 2025, IAI Al-Azis laid a strong foundation through the “Women’s Health Seminar.” This was a successful collaboration initiated by the Chairman of the LPMI Foundation, Drs. William Wairata, M.Th., in collaboration with the UNTO Community from the United States.
At that time, the discussion rooms of Ma’had Al-Zaytun were filled with female students, lecturers, teachers, and students discussing reproductive health issues and preventive measures. This cross-continental collaboration successfully combined modern medical science with divine values, creating an educational standard that is now “down to earth” in the hands of KKN students.
The Body as a Trust: A True Expression of Gratitude
For IAI Al-Azis, health is more than just a statistic in a medical report. From the perspective of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, which they uphold, health is part of the implementation of religious values. Education: Understanding body functions. Research: Finding preventive solutions. Community Service: Sharing this knowledge with those who need it most—women and children in rural areas.
“Maintaining health is an expression of gratitude. If last year we collaborated with experts from America to absorb knowledge, today in Sukajati, we are giving that knowledge back to the community,” said one of their devotional narrations.
Health Education: Collaboration between IAI AL-AZIS and the UNTO Community in the United States
As a concrete manifestation of their vision to become a healthy, intelligent, humane, and independent international research university, lecturers at the Al-Zaytun Islamic Institute of Indonesia (IAI Al-AZIS) participated in Community Service activities through the “Women’s Health Seminar” educational program. This activity was held collaboratively with the Indonesian Student Service Institute (LPMI) and the UNTO Community from the United States.
The three-day seminar, held from November 3 to 5, 2025, involved not only the campus itself but also female students of the Ma’had Al-Zaytun Islamic High School (MA), teachers (ustadzah) at the Ma’had Al-Zaytun Islamic Boarding School, and educational staff. All participants were women. This focus aimed to provide a safe and comfortable space for in-depth discussions of reproductive health and preventive issues, which often require a specialized approach and comprehensive understanding from both medical and divine perspectives.
Integration of Divine Teachings and Humanity
This activity is based on the institution’s mission to create a healthy and intelligent society. By presenting women’s health education, through community service activities, participants’ social awareness and relevant medical and health insights within the Islamic educational environment were enhanced.
“This is an implementation of the contemporary education system at IAI Al-AZIS, where community service must address the most fundamental aspect of life: health. This is done to foster self-awareness of health in order to successfully produce productive and high-quality individuals,” said one of the lecturers.
Practicing Tolerance Amidst Diversity
Beyond its medical benefits, this seminar provided a unique opportunity for university students, pupils, and teachers to practice a culture of tolerance and peace. For three days, participants actively interacted and engaged in dialogue with teams from the Christian community under the auspices of the Indonesian Institute of Islamic Studies (LPMI). This interfaith interaction strengthened IAI Al-AZIS’s position as an inclusive educational institution open to all groups.
The participants, particularly the teachers and students, expressed their deep appreciation to Sheikh Al-Zaytun and the Rector of IAI Al-AZIS for this valuable opportunity. They considered this activity to provide two benefits simultaneously: crucial health knowledge and real-life experience in fostering interfaith harmony in Indonesia.
About IAI Al-AZIS
IAI Al-AZIS is a leading educational institution has a grand vision of becoming an International Research University based on Divine Teachings for all. This institution is dedicated to shaping a healthy, intelligent, and humane society that is free in spirit, mind, and knowledge through a contemporary education system based on LSTEAMS (Law, Science, Technology, Art, Mathematics, Spirituality).**
Indramayu, January 27, 2026
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