Help Promote Good Reading Habits in Kalimantan

* Please note that the events described below happened before the Covid-19 crisis around the world. Our community library has closed its doors to the general public since March 16th as soon as the Indonesian government announced schools closure and social distancing recommendations.

YUM’s Community Library in Kalimantan has been actively inviting students from several schools in the area to join our program. Our aim is to provide students with high quality reading sources, especially those who live quite far from our library. In the months of January and February, students from several preschools and elementary schools have been visiting our library every week. During their time in the library, the students have the same access to our book collection as any other member. Our beloved librarian, Miss Rusti, is the one who accompanies them and prepares all the tools that they may need.

There is also a 10-minute reading policy that students are encouraged to follow though some of them are not fluent yet in reading as they are either in Pre-school, Kindergarten or 1^st grade. In order to tackle this issue, Miss Rusti conducts a group reading session where she reads aloud the book that they will discuss together. Other activities in the library include things such as a science club, play time with educational toys and games, drawing, and coloring.

“There are many students in our school who find it difficult to read and this made us realize just how limited our access was to reading materials. But thanks to YUM’s initiatives, our students now have access to sources of quality knowledge that we have been lacking so far. We would love to bring our students here more often whenever we have the chance. And once again, we thank YUM for this wonderful opportunity.” Emi, teacher of SDN 3 Tumbang.

Finally, YUM would like to say how grateful we are for the kind and continuous support that we have received from all of you through GlobalGiving. Your donation has helped in sustaining our projects and spreading our reach to more people. Thank you!

As we work in these uncertain times, it seems clearer to us that our community in Kalimantan needs us more than ever. And we need you! Not much is happening in terms of Covid-19 prevention in our area by the local government. If you’re able, please make a donation to this project so we can help our communities by providing them with soaps, masks and food packages to families most in need. Thank you again for being part of our community!