The rise of Islamophobia across Europe and the United States can have real-life implications. Hollywood and the media have crucial roles in influencing popular opinions against Muslims. They have depicted Muslim characters as hyper-aggressive, a threat to the Western way of life,anti-modern, oppressed (female) or misogynistic (male), or perpetrators of terrorism.
The film is set in one of the largest traditional Islamic boarding schools in West Java, Indonesia, called Pondok Kebun Jambu, one of the few traditional Islamic boarding schools in the country run by a woman, Nyai Masriah Amva. This boarding school provides housing and education for over 1,700 students aged between 12 and 22 for a small fee of $15 per month. Contrary to popular belief, pesantren is not a breeding place for terrorists. It is a brick wall against rising Muslim conservatism that wants to see the country move towards an Islamic state.
Impact
Impact distribution of A Boarding School would like to spark meaningful reflection and discussions about the wealth of wisdom in Islam, inspire the creation of breakthrough social models in various spaces that promote and safeguard intercultural sensitivity to promote a more intercultural awareness and inclusive society in Indonesia.
There are 17 activities of impact distribution of A Boarding School which connect them with 259 participants. The findings obtained from these activities show that the participants were surprised by the Islamic boarding school in Pondok Bambu and how women become leaders, as well as gain a deeper understanding of gender equality, understanding and deepening of religion, openness and freedom of expression, holistic education, togetherness, simplicity, independence and tenacity, and devotion.
