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

'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