Yogyakarta, 11 June 2026 — In his invited presentation at the International Conference on Aisyiyah Studies (ICAS) 2026, Prof. Kim Hyung-Jun, a distinguished anthropologist and scholar of Islam in Southeast Asia, offered a provocative and inspiring reflection on the future of Aisyiyah in an increasingly interconnected world. His central message was both simple and memorable: Aisyiyah needs to be more “narcissistic” in the positive sense of the term.
By this, Prof. Kim did not mean self-centeredness or arrogance. Rather, he argued that Aisyiyah should develop greater confidence in recognizing, celebrating, and communicating its own achievements. For more than a century, Aisyiyah has built schools, universities, hospitals, social welfare institutions, economic empowerment programs, and community development initiatives that have transformed the lives of millions of people. Yet, despite these remarkable accomplishments, many of these stories remain largely unknown outside Indonesia.
According to Prof. Kim, this modesty reflects one of Aisyiyah’s strengths but may also become a limitation in the contemporary era. While many organizations actively promote their achievements to gain visibility and influence, Aisyiyah often focuses on service and action without sufficiently documenting, narrating, and disseminating its experiences to broader audiences. As a result, valuable lessons and innovations developed by Aisyiyah are not always recognized within global discussions on women’s leadership, civil society, education, health, and social transformation.
He suggested that Aisyiyah should become more proactive in presenting its history, achievements, and intellectual contributions to the world. This includes producing more publications, engaging in international academic networks, strengthening digital communication, documenting institutional experiences, and participating more actively in global conversations on issues where Aisyiyah has demonstrated significant expertise.
Prof. Kim emphasized that the world today is searching for successful examples of faith-based organizations that combine religious commitment with social progress, women’s empowerment, education, and community development. In his view, Aisyiyah represents one of the most successful examples of such a movement. However, unless its stories are systematically shared, many people outside Indonesia will remain unaware of its significance.
He further noted that organizations do not inspire others solely through their activities; they inspire through the narratives they build around those activities. In an era shaped by digital communication, global networks, and rapidly circulating information, storytelling has become an essential component of institutional influence. Aisyiyah therefore needs to tell its story more confidently—not for self-promotion alone, but to ensure that its experiences can serve as a source of inspiration and learning for others.
Another important theme of his presentation was the relationship between local achievements and global relevance. Prof. Kim argued that many of the challenges addressed by Aisyiyah—including women’s education, community health, social welfare, environmental sustainability, and intergenerational leadership—are not uniquely Indonesian concerns. They are global issues. Consequently, the solutions and experiences developed by Aisyiyah possess value far beyond national boundaries.
Throughout his presentation, Prof. Kim encouraged participants to think of Aisyiyah not only as a national movement but also as a global intellectual and social resource. The organization’s long history, extensive institutional networks, and commitment to social service provide a rich foundation for international engagement and scholarly inquiry.
His presentation resonated strongly with the conference audience because it challenged a common assumption that impact naturally leads to recognition. Instead, he argued that recognition requires intentional efforts to document, communicate, and share success stories with wider audiences.
Concluding his remarks, Prof. Kim expressed his hope that Aisyiyah would continue to strengthen its confidence as a global movement. By embracing its own history, achievements, and intellectual heritage more openly, Aisyiyah can inspire not only Indonesian society but also communities around the world seeking models of ethical leadership, social responsibility, and transformative change.
His message ultimately served as both a compliment and a challenge: after more than a century of service and innovation, Aisyiyah has every reason to be proud of its accomplishments—and every reason to ensure that the world knows about them.
