'Letter to the President': What society can and must do

"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