Sydney, Australia – September 9, 2024
A group of lecturers from UIN Alauddin Makassar, representing the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FKIK) and the Faculty of Education and Training (FTK), participated in a vibrant community service event in Sydney, Australia, on Sunday, September 8, 2024. This event was part of an international collaboration with the Ashabul Kahfi Language School (AKLS).
The event took place at Punchbowl Public School, located at 1333 Canterbury Road, Punchbowl NSW 2196, and was attended by nearly a hundred participants, including students from AKLS, their parents, and teachers. Among the notable attendees were Dr. Teuku Chalidin Yacob, JP, and Mrs. Darliana Abdullah, founders of Ashabul Kahfi Islamic Centre Incorporated and school principal of AKLS. The students, aged between 6 and 15, enthusiastically engaged with the lecturers, who combined educational games with informative presentations.
The delegation from UIN Alauddin Makassar was led by Dr. Dewi Setiawati, Sp.OG., M.Kes, Dean of FKIK, and Dr. Serliah Nur, M.Hum., M.Ed., Head of the International Office. They were accompanied by four other lecturers: Dr. Nurhira Abdul Kadir, MPH, Ph.D., Nurdiyanah S, SKM, MPH, Ani Auli Ilmi, S.Kep., Ns., M.Kep., Sp.Kep.Kom, and Annisa Shofa Tsuraya, S.Pd., M.Pd., as well as Mada Fauziah Hanum Siagian, a student from Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar.
During the event, Dr. Dewi Setiawati and Dr. Serliah Nur emphasized the importance of children nurturing their aspirations through diligent efforts, studying, and praying. They also highlighted the crucial role of parental guidance and prayer in helping children achieve their dreams.
      
Supporting these sentiments, Dr. Teuku Aulia Geumpana, an AKLS teacher and IT expert who also lectures at the University of Newcastle, Australia, led an interactive dialogue with the students. The session was met with enthusiasm as students eagerly shared their dreams, including Kholil, the son of Mrs. Sumarheni Sudir, a Ph.D. candidate and lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Hasanuddin University, who confidently expressed his ambition to become a firefighter.
In his remarks, Dr. Teuku Chalidin Yacob, JP, praised the collaboration between UIN Alauddin Makassar and AKLS. He noted that Ashabul Kahfi, established decades ago, has grown into a multicultural community that not only serves the religious needs of the Acehnese diaspora but also includes Indonesians and other nationalities, such as Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. Several residents from Sulawesi have also joined the community, reinforcing the historic and close relationship between Aceh and Makassar.
Dr. Teuku Chalidin also mentioned that prominent figures from Makassar, including the Mayor, Danny Pomanto, have visited Ashabul Kahfi in Sydney. The event was also supported by members of the KKSS Sydney management, including Firdaus Muis, Kustina Firdaus, and Sartini Puji Astuti.
