"Their presence is urgently needed, particularly in regions with limited access to religious services," the ministry's Director of Islamic Religious Information Ahmad Zayadi noted in a statement received here on Monday.
Zayadi explained that by involving female preachers in its religious efforts, the ministry aims to promote more inclusive Islamic preaching activities responsive to communities' actual needs.
"Our objective is to ensure that preaching activities in Indonesia become more inclusive and cover all levels of society. It is vital to strengthen women's roles in preaching to reach more communities," Zayadi explained.
The official also highlighted that these female preachers are expected to enlighten people on Islamic values and practices and empower women, educate children, and foster social resilience among their audience.
He expressed hope that a more significant number of female preachers would participate in this initiative in the future.
Siti Kasumah, a preacher assigned to a hard-to-reach village in Subulussalam City, Aceh Province, shared her experience.
Despite hailing from the same city, she acknowledged facing challenges in traversing the tough terrain to reach her assigned location.
"I had to traverse rocky, mostly laterite roads, which became even more slippery when it rained. I overcame all these challenges with the spirit of preaching," she remarked.
The 27-year-old preacher also highlighted that the village lacks infrastructure, places of worship, and access to information.
In the village, Kasumah has been instructing children in Quran recitation and providing mothers with valuable religious knowledge.
"I can sense a high level of enthusiasm from them, which is understandable since they rarely have a female preacher to discuss religious matters with," she remarked.
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Translator: Asep F, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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