Thirsty libraries to get refreshment
Thirsty libraries to get refreshment
JAKARTA (JP): PT Coca-Cola Indonesia launched a foundation on
Thursday and committed itself to spend some Rp 5 billion
(US$595,240) over three years to help improve 20 libraries across
the country.
The Coca-Cola Foundation Indonesia was inaugurated by Minister
of National Education Yahya Muhaimin at Regent Hotel in South
Jakarta.
Chairman of the foundation's board of management Mugijanto
said grants for the library development program would be used for
providing books, improving library management and upgrading
library facilities.
"We won't give cash, otherwise it (the program) would turn in
to a completely mix-up," Mugijanto said after the launching.
He said the foundation would not use the program as a blatant
vehicle to promote the company's products.
"It's true there won't be any logos or stickers placed, for
example, in books (to be put in the library)," said Mugijanto,
who was accompanied by former minister of education and
foundation board member Fuad Hassan.
"Coca-Cola realizes that education is a fundamental way to
help individuals reach their potential. That is the reason we
have decided to focus our activities on education, in order to
help Indonesian children gain knowledge and become productive
citizens," he said.
Fuad added that the first stage of the aid to the 20 libraries
-- the locations of which have yet to be specified -- would serve
as a pilot project and pattern-setter for the entire program.
"With the grants, we hope that within a period of three years
the selected libraries, be they state or privately run, can
become financially independent and attract people in the
neighborhood (to read)," he said.
Should the pilot project fail, the entire program will be
halted, Fuad added.
With the help of two experts, including Adwityani S. Subagio
from the Indonesian Library Club (KPI), the foundation has
started surveying potential libraries to receive the grants, he
said.
Grants like this from private companies, Fuad said, were badly
needed by the country, which suffers from a lack of libraries and
books.
"Out of some 110,000 schools in the country, only 18 percent
have a library for their students. And out of 64,000 villages
across the nation, only 22 percent have libraries," Fuad said.
He hoped that the books provided to the selected libraries
would not be like school textbooks, but be do-it-yourself books
in order to help children be more creative.
Minister Yahya said that he greatly appreciated the
willingness of PT Coca-Cola Indonesia to share such a large
amount of money to help the country's education development
program.
Mugijanto said his company never provided grants for social
activities based on potential revenue increases.
"It's our commitment. During the 1998 economic crisis, for
instance, we still distributed some Rp 1 billion to help the
community," he said. (09/bsr)