The Social Welfare Study Program (IKS) at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta continues to extend its international outreach through community engagement abroad. Muhammad Izzul Haq, Ph.D., Head of the IKS Program, delivered a motivational talk at a Family Halaqah organized by the Indonesian Muslim community group Syiar Montréal on February 22, 2025.

The event, themed “Preparations for Ramadan,” took place at the office of the Sister Shabria Foundation, a nonprofit philanthropic organization and a key partner of Syiar Montréal in its social and religious initiatives. Held at 5271 St. Hubert Street, the gathering ran from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST and brought together approximately 60 participants, including members of the Indonesian and Malaysian diaspora, as well as Canadian residents.

Dr. Izzul’s presence in Montréal coincided with a significant academic milestone—his dissertation defense at McGill University, one of Canada’s leading institutions. Seizing this opportunity, he combined scholarly engagement with community service, contributing to the spiritual enrichment of Muslim communities abroad.

In his address, Dr. Izzul emphasized the importance of approaching Ramadan not merely as an annual ritual, but as a transformative period for personal growth and sustained self-improvement.

“Ramadan is a month of training,” he noted. “It is not only about intensifying acts of worship temporarily, but about cultivating consistency in doing good—however small—on a continuous basis.”

He also highlighted the particular relevance of Ramadan for Muslim communities living in diaspora contexts, where maintaining religious identity often requires resilience, adaptability, and a strong sense of purpose.

The event reflects IKS’s broader commitment to global engagement—bridging academic knowledge with real-world community service across borders. The collaboration between diaspora communities, philanthropic institutions, and academic actors illustrates a dynamic model of social work in action, grounded in both Islamic values and contemporary social realities.

Through initiatives like this, IKS UIN Sunan Kalijaga reaffirms its role as a globally engaged academic program, contributing to the development of inclusive, resilient, and socially conscious communities worldwide.