<![CDATA[Rural community development in developing nations frequently suffers from deficit-oriented paradigms that overlook intrinsic social and religious assets. This study evaluates a wide-ranging community engagement initiative grounded in Community-Based Research (CBR) and Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) principles, specifically designed to foster social and religious development in rural contexts. Implemented across four iterative CBR phases (Partnership & Discovery, Collaborative Assessment, Co-Execution, and Reflection), the programme mobilised local human, institutional, and spiritual capitals without relying on external patronage. Primary interventions focused on three interconnected domains: enhancing public speaking confidence among Quranic students (santri) within Islamic education centres (TPQ), empowering women's self-reliance through cassava food processing and textile commercialisation, and establishing community-led environmental waste management as a manifestation of social-religious responsibility. Quantitative and qualitative evaluations demonstrated a 48% increase in public communication self-efficacy among young Quranic scholars, a 35% rise in household income among participating women's micro-enterprises, and a 60% reduction in unmanaged household waste. The integration of Islamic ethical values (Rahmatan lil-'Alamin) with participatory research strengthened village social cohesion and institutional trust. The study concludes that CBR offers a rigorous, culturally resonant methodology for sustainable rural transformation when indigenous religious and social assets are systematically leveraged.]]>
Copyrights © 2026
