’Letter to the President’: What society can and must do
09 February 2004, by: 1001buku Media

The Jakarta Post, 23 Juli 2003

"I’d rather have a library than a president," says Dania R. Pratiwi,
a young volunteer, when asked why she has signed herself up for the
1001Buku, a network of volunteers and community libraries.

Many high-rise office buildings in Jakarta now house the network’s
Book-Drop Box, which is actually a container of any kind placed
strategically for anyone to drop used or new children books for
distribution at a later stage.

Not very relevant, may be, but Dania gushes when asked to list all
her reasons for volunteering for the network that within one year of
its existence has managed to raise fund and thousands of books to be
distributed to dozens of libraries in many Indonesian cities and
villages.

"I have loved books since I was very young, I would ask that any
gifts for me be books," she says. "Once, I saw this young street
child so absorbed in a comic book whose cover was already torn. I was
so touched that I gave him my own book. He was so happy he was
jumping up and down."

"I joined the network and I would support any activities that will
make children happy and feel that their feelings are respected by
giving them a never-ending source of happiness, namely books!"

Dwi Andayani, another volunteer who comes from a small town,
remembers how she used to spend up to three hours squatting in front
of used-book vendors in the market, reading without paying. She
braved the sour looks that the vendor gave her because she did not
have any other access to books. "I paid him by helping him arrange
his display," Dwi says.

"I joined the network because I was concerned about children who did
not know books and who were more friendly with play stations," Dwi
says. "They don’t look as happy as I was when I was younger."

Many of the almost-800 members of the 1001Buku mailing list
(1001Buku@yahoogroups.com) speak in the same vein when asked about
why they volunteer.

Initiated by Upik Djalins, a book-lover who will soon leave for the
United States for her doctorate studies, the network originated from
an exchange of e-mails among several organizers of community
libraries for children.

Among them were Ida Sitompul from Bandung, who thinks the reason why
people sign up is because they have kept "the child in them alive",
and Gola Gong, a novelist who together with his wife, Tyas Tatanka,
set up the Rumah Dunia center for children in Banten. In Rumah Dunia,
children participate in goof reading, drawing and many other
inspiring activities.

Another member of the network is Stasiun Buku (Book Station) in
Kelapa Dua, Depok, West Java, where children take a break from
violent PlayStation games by reading and taking part in simple games
and competitions, such as "junior reporter contest" and treasure
hunts. It was set up in 2000 and now has several branches, with
hundreds of members.

The network is an example of what the society can do to foster
children’s creativity -- something that experts believe is crucial.
The community is responsible for the fulfillment of children’s right
to be creative and happy.

The Jakarta Arts Council (DKM) at Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center in
Central Jakarta is demonstrating its commitment, too, by organizing
for the 2003 National Children’s Day that falls on 23 July a series
of activities to encourage children’s creativity, entitled "Indonesia
through My Eyes". Among the activities are painting competitions and
theatrical shows. The highlight, however, could very well be this: a
contest of letter writing -- to the President.

Participants are asked to focus their letter on topics such as "the
Indonesia that I wish for", "the catastrophes in my village", "my
story about the sea", "if I were a soldier", "if I were the
President" and "if I were a rich businessman/woman".

And one certainly looks forward to reading what the children have to
say to President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

-- Santi W.E. Soekanto