PONTIANAK, Thekabarnews.com—The Religious Affairs Ministry Office of Pontianak (Kemenag Pontianak) has launched a financial literacy movement in cooperation with Yayasan Karya Dua Anyam. The goal is to improve family resilience and tackle one of the main reasons for divorce in the Pontianak city.

The partnership, realized through the SHE CAN Program, aims to provide practical financial management skills to 1,200 engaged couples in six Religious Affairs Offices (KUA) in Pontianak. The program provides this support before they enter married life.

This initiative is part of a larger partnership between the DBS Foundation and the Asia Foundation. Yayasan Karya Dua Anyam serves as the local implementing partner.

The goal is to improve the financial inclusion of economically vulnerable women in West Kalimantan. In addition, the program supports families in building better economic foundations.

Pontianak recorded the second highest number of divorce cases in the province, with 885 cases in 2026. This data comes from the West Kalimantan office of Statistics Indonesia (BPS).

Desertion, gambling, and infidelity are causes of the breakdown of marriage. But poverty is the root most frequently found. Financial insecurity, the struggle to make ends meet and disputes over family income continue to strain many marriages deeply.

With these challenges in mind, the SHE CAN Program focuses on prevention education. It helps couples practice positive financial habits before marriage.

The SHE CAN financial literacy curriculum provides structured training to participants on household budgeting, long-term financial planning, shared financial goals, savings management and fair decision-making in the family.

It also makes couples think about financial planning as a shared responsibility rather than an individual one. This leads to better cooperation and resilience in the household.

To increase the impact, the financial literacy module will be incorporated into the Marriage Guidance (Bimwin) Program. This program is routinely held at the religious affairs offices across all of Pontianak.

The premarital counseling process includes financial knowledge. This helps reach couples as they prepare for a major stage in family life.

To kick off, the organizers held a Training of Facilitators (ToF) on June 17-18, 2026, for marriage registrars and religious counselors. These facilitators received special training on financial literacy, gender equality and social inclusion.

The facilitators will then teach the curriculum to the participating couples attending Bimwin sessions across the city.

Officially launched in January 2025 as a result of a strategic partnership between DBS Foundation, The Asia Foundation, and Yayasan Karya Dua Anyam. It is expected to increase the financial inclusion of 80,000 financially vulnerable women in West Kalimantan.

The DBS Foundation, set up in 2014, supports social causes that aim to improve the lives of underprivileged communities. They do so through greater access to basic services, better livelihoods, and financial inclusion.

“This collaboration is a clear reflection of our commitment to empower families through financial education in the long run,” said Mona Monika, head of group marketing & communications of Bank DBS Indonesia.

“We are proud to work with the Kemenag Pontianak, the Asia Foundation, and Yayasan Karya Dua Anyam through the SHE CAN Program to promote financial literacy and inclusion for engaged couples. We believe financial literacy is a foundational building block for individuals, families, and communities to be financially resilient. Hoping to see wider adoption of this module so that more families can enter into marriage with greater financial preparedness and greater confidence about the future,” she added.

“Financial readiness is as crucial as spiritual readiness before marriage,” said Riri Mahmuda, Project Lead of the SHE CAN Program from Yayasan Karya Dua Anyam.

Riri stated healthy financial behavior is an important life skill for every engaged couple, along with spiritual maturity. Many divorces and domestic violence issues are related to unresolved money issues.

The Kemenag Pontianak also welcomed the move and committed to supporting programs that enhance the resilience of households.

“We must address family economic issues and the increasing divorce rate proactively. We’re ready to work together to help build financially resilient families,” Head of the Islamic Community Guidance Section Yuliansyah stated.

The SHE CAN Program combines financial literacy, gender equality, and social inclusion in premarital counseling to help young couples build stronger and more sustainable homes. It also aims to prevent financial disputes before they arise.

The move reflects a growing awareness that successful marriages need more than just emotional and spiritual preparation. In addition, they also require the financial savvy to handle the realities of family life.