Thirsty libraries to get refreshment<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): PT Coca-Cola Indonesia launched a foundation on
\nThursday and committed itself to spend some Rp 5 billion
\n(US$595,240) over three years to help improve 20 libraries across
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
The Coca-Cola Foundation Indonesia was inaugurated by Minister
\nof National Education Yahya Muhaimin at Regent Hotel in South
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the foundation's board of management Mugijanto
\nsaid grants for the library development program would be used for
\nproviding books, improving library management and upgrading
\nlibrary facilities.<\/p>\n
"We won't give cash, otherwise it (the program) would turn in
\nto a completely mix-up," Mugijanto said after the launching.<\/p>\n
He said the foundation would not use the program as a blatant
\nvehicle to promote the company's products.<\/p>\n
"It's true there won't be any logos or stickers placed, for
\nexample, in books (to be put in the library)," said Mugijanto,
\nwho was accompanied by former minister of education and
\nfoundation board member Fuad Hassan.<\/p>\n
"Coca-Cola realizes that education is a fundamental way to
\nhelp individuals reach their potential. That is the reason we
\nhave decided to focus our activities on education, in order to
\nhelp Indonesian children gain knowledge and become productive
\ncitizens," he said.<\/p>\n
Fuad added that the first stage of the aid to the 20 libraries
\n-- the locations of which have yet to be specified -- would serve
\nas a pilot project and pattern-setter for the entire program.<\/p>\n
"With the grants, we hope that within a period of three years
\nthe selected libraries, be they state or privately run, can
\nbecome financially independent and attract people in the
\nneighborhood (to read)," he said.<\/p>\n
Should the pilot project fail, the entire program will be
\nhalted, Fuad added.<\/p>\n
With the help of two experts, including Adwityani S. Subagio
\nfrom the Indonesian Library Club (KPI), the foundation has
\nstarted surveying potential libraries to receive the grants, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Grants like this from private companies, Fuad said, were badly
\nneeded by the country, which suffers from a lack of libraries and
\nbooks.<\/p>\n
"Out of some 110,000 schools in the country, only 18 percent
\nhave a library for their students. And out of 64,000 villages
\nacross the nation, only 22 percent have libraries," Fuad said.<\/p>\n
He hoped that the books provided to the selected libraries
\nwould not be like school textbooks, but be do-it-yourself books
\nin order to help children be more creative.<\/p>\n
Minister Yahya said that he greatly appreciated the
\nwillingness of PT Coca-Cola Indonesia to share such a large
\namount of money to help the country's education development
\nprogram.<\/p>\n
Mugijanto said his company never provided grants for social
\nactivities based on potential revenue increases.<\/p>\n
"It's our commitment. During the 1998 economic crisis, for
\ninstance, we still distributed some Rp 1 billion to help the
\ncommunity," he said. (09\/bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/thirsty-libraries-to-get-refreshment-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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