With the support of the IKEA Foundation, Room to Read, ProVisi Education and our local partners embarked on an exciting project in Indonesia. Over three years, we're building the capacity of 100 local writers and illustrators in Indonesia, as well as creating and publishing at least 60 new children’s book titles. One of these incredible books recently won the 2018 Islamic Book Award for Best Illustration! The project aims to support the Ministry of Education and Culture's National Literacy Movement. Through this project, we are creating at least 420,000 copies of culturally-relevant children’s books and distributing them to more than 4,000 schools across Indonesia. We are also establishing 156 school libraries across three regions of the country in collaboration with our local partners: Mutiara Rindang, Taman Bacaan Pelangi and Yayasan Literasi Anak Indonesia.Sparking the Magic of Reading in Indonesia
Indonesia
Watch: Room to Read in Indonesia
By the Numbers: Room to Read's Indonesia Project
60 — new original titles produced
100 — authors and illustrators involved in the project
9 — Indonesian publishing houses
156 — school libraries established over three years
42,000 — children reached
420,000 — books distributed to 4,000 schools in Indonesia
“Since the Room to Read workshop, students and teachers have much stronger relationships. This library has children excited to learn.”
Librarian, SDI WaenakengWhy Indonesia?
With more than 17,000 islands and 700 languages in Indonesia, culturally-relevant storybooks and engaging literacy instruction are both incredibly important. Quality children’s books aren’t readily available in many parts of the country and only 46 percent of primary schools have a library. Together our network of partners aims to change that. To make these new local language books a reality, our Southeast Asia Regional book publishing expert, Alfredo Santos, facilitated author and illustrator workshops in collaboration with our partners in Indonesia and shared what makes an engaging storybook for children so special. From there came 60 new titles created in partnership with local publishers including: Pelangi Mizan, Kanisius Publishing, Bestari Publishing, Noura Books, Puspa Swara, BIP, Yayasan Literasi Anak Indonesia and the Litara Foundation.
Training Indonesian Teachers, Librarians, Authors & Illustrators
“After the workshop, I encouraged my students to go to the library and read books. They are willing to stay longer in the library even if it is time to go home. They are so excited whenever I read books for them, especially when I read the story with a good expression just like I did in the workshop."
– Beataf Fiony Irawati, Grade 2 teacher in West Manggarai
At Least 420,000 Books Reaching Indonesian Students
"As a mother, I'm so happy to see my daughter bringing home books. She says, 'Mommy by reading this book we don't have to go to another country to learn about it.'"
– Wina, parent of a primary school-aged child in East Java
Making the Library the Most Coveted Space in School
“The children are excited because all of the books are great. The children come to the library every day. Before the program is implemented, the library was so quiet because no one wanted to visit. The parents are also so happy with it. Sometimes they come early for pick up to visit the library."
– Detty Kristika Dewi, primary school librarian in Kuta, Bali
Just the Beginning
What's the best part about our project in Indonesia? It's far from over! We've got an incredibly exciting addition underway with Google.org and you're not going to want to miss it.
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