The Social Welfare Studies Program (IKS), Faculty of Da’wa and Communication at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, once again underscored its academic leadership on the global stage. At the 9th International Da’wah Conference (IDACON), held Thursday, October 2, 2025, at the Gran Rohan Hotel Yogyakarta, IKS convened a thematic panel under the title “Social Work in Times of Disruption—Addressing Inequality, Displacement, and the Climate Crisis through Faith-Based Social Work and Community Engagement.”

The panel brought together scholars from across Indonesia to reflect on urgent social challenges—ranging from gender inequality and migration to disability rights and the climate crisis—through the lens of faith-based social work and grassroots engagement. Serving as reviewer was Muhammad Izzul Haq, Ph.D., Head of the IKS undergraduate program, with Dr. Arin Mamlakah Kalamika, M.A., moderating the session.

Contributions highlighted the breadth and complexity of today’s disruptions. From UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Andayani, S.IP., MSW, and her team presented findings on the “invisible” mental load borne by women in the household. Using a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach, their study underlined how community support is essential to building resilience.

Disability was addressed through the presentation of Dr. Asep Jahidin, S.Ag., M.Si, who proposed the Cahaya Nabi (Light of the Prophet) intervention model. Drawing on the cosmological-spiritual framework of Nur Muhammad, his work argued for a faith-driven perspective on disability as a pathway to deeper social inclusion.

From the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Gorontalo Province, Riska Duduti and her team introduced an innovation in religious education for the visually impaired. Through the Al-Baghdadiyah Braille method, she presented an inclusive approach to learning the Qur’an, emphasizing the recognition of the rights of persons with disabilities as the foundation for equitable education

Community well-being was examined in the study by Latiful Khuluk and colleagues, Dynamics and Challenges in Fulfilling the Welfare of the Samin Community. Their research underscored the cultural values of the Samin people as a basis for socio-ecological harmony, while critiquing extractive development models that undermine local sustainability.

Dr. Siti Napsiyah, S.Ag., BSW, MSW, of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, turned attention to digital inequality among the elderly. Her findings demonstrated how collaboration between social workers and Majlis Taklim can empower older generations to engage in the digital sphere, thereby strengthening their social participation.

Meanwhile, Rahmat Ramdhani of UIN Fatmawati Sukarno Bengkulu highlighted the pivotal role of migrant preachers (da’i). Beyond their religious mission, he argued, they serve as faith-based agents of socio-economic change within migrant communities.

The issue of migration was once again highlighted by the PAR Team of the Master of Social Welfare program at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, presented by Revika Arnita Sari and Haddat Alwi, graduate students in Social Welfare. Their study examined economic factors, gender vulnerabilities, and the challenges of reintegrating female migrant workers in Indonesia. Using a feminist perspective, the research underscored the urgency of migrant organizations’ solidarity to confront stigma while advancing social justice.

The discussion did more than enrich academic discourse; it raised sharp questions about how such research might be translated into public policy. By convening this panel, IKS UIN Sunan Kalijaga reaffirmed its role in bridging social work scholarship with global concerns—while proposing faith-based engagement as an alternative framework for addressing the disruptions of inequality, displacement, and climate change.