Help Promote Good Reading Habits in Kalimantan

From 12^th to 16th January 2015, my colleagues and I visited YUM Kalimantan in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, as a new spirit to start 2015. I went to the YUM Kalimantan Library and I could witnessed by myself how the Library has become a window to the world for the children of the communities around and how important are the integrated programs to improve their qualify of life.

Children like to come and join the daily activities of the Library despite for some of them imply to walk 3 km through the jungle. Although that was my second visit to the library since its creation, it still surprised and touched me the good will and efforts of those communities to get a better education.

Children love the activities at the Library. Even some of them encourage other children to join and this is how the Library is much attended and having enthusiastic groups for learning through reading, writing, games, songs, dances, drawings, watching short films and others.

Mila (not her real name), a Senior High School student shared with me that she has been a frequent visitor to the Library since Junior High School and that since then she has taken part in most of our educational programs. She told me that she really loves YUM programs because there she is able to catch up or learn through means like computer or English language what she is unavailable to get at home or at her school due to their poor economic conditions. Mila told me that she really hopes that Library will always be open and provide more books for every one, and especially teen novels, which are her favorite ones.

In February, the librarian in Kalimantan sent me some letters from the children after having a writing activity where children were asked their opinion of YUM Kalimantan Library. Find below, one of these letters, written by Ani, 3^rd grade of elementary school student:

“Here there is a place that is clean, beautiful and environmental friendly called YUM Library.  In the library we can read, borrow a lot of books and also meet many friends. I almost come every day,  but before we join the daily activities or games, we have to read first, and when finish we have to put the book back in the right place. YUM library is a beautiful place.”

When I read this letter made me put not only a smile in my face but also in my heart. This little girl is one of hundreds children that YOU have helped in YUM Kalimantan Library through GlobalGiving. Thank you for supporting us and hopefully you will make other children feel the beauty of the YUM library.

Currently, we have one young man, a bookkeeper in YUM Head Office, Paridi Akbar, who wants to continue his studies at the university. Paridi wishes that he can improve his quality of life as well as the one of his family.  Paridi's Education: A Role Model For Thousands  will be in the GlobalGiving Bonus Day coming on March 18^th, 2015, where you can double your donation until 30 % on all donations up to $ 1,000 per donor per project or while funds remain.  There is $ 60,000 available in matching and matching begins at 9:00:00 EDT and lasts until funds run out or 23:59:59 EDT (INDONESIAN TIME March, 18^th at 20:00 WIB until March 19^th at 10:59 WIB).

This BONUS DAY will only happen on March 18^th, 2015 so if you are to help, please share this message to your friends and family. Please let them know to wait until March 18^th before making their donations. YUM would like to make the most of this amazing opportunity, and we can’t do it without your help. THANK YOU!