Houses Of Worship Can Be A Place For Quality Children's Activities

Illustration of children doing activities in places of worship (Freepic)

JAKARTA - In addition to houses and schools, parents can direct their children to do activities in houses of worship. The reason is, according to Assistant Deputy for Fulfillment of Children's Rights of the Ministry of PPPA Amurwani Dwi Lestariningsih, houses of worship can be used as centers for quality children's activities.

"We are doing the function of returning houses of worship as a place to spend quality free time, in addition to schools and families," said Amurwani, as quoted by ANTARA.

Compared to allowing children to roam indiscriminately, some even roam the streets, he said houses of worship could be used to fill children's free time and contribute to positive and useful activities.

"With an approach of religious values, we convey the characteristics and information that is appropriate for our children, so that houses of worship play a role in providing protection and also certainty for families and the community that what children do outside the family and school is truly protected," he said.

This is the background for the Ministry of PPPA in collaboration with the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) and various religious organizations to carry out the Child Friendly House of Worship Program (RIRA) and formulate technical instructions for its implementation.

For example, cooperation with the Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI) to formulate Guidelines for Child Friendly Mosques.

RIRA was previously launched by the Ministry of PPPA in 2022 to formulate houses of worship with a holistic service system and ensure the fulfillment of children's rights, including those that protect children from all forms of violence, exploitation, vulnerability, and discrimination.