Indonesia is still far behind other countries in the world in terms of interest in reading. Even in the ASEAN region whose interest in reading is the lowest in the global scope, Indonesia is one country that contributes the smallest number. UNESCO says, of about a thousand people in Indonesia, only one person who has a high interest in reading books. One cause of the low rate of interest in reading in the country is the lack of access to books.
Therefore, to welcome the World Book Day celebrated on April 23, FORU raised a book donation program. This program paved the way for the Fortuners (FORU employees) who wanted to donate their used or new books to the children of Sanggar Fortune Nursery School. All Fortuners were free to donate children books through dropbox that was placed by the stair on the 1st floor.
This action seemed to gain a positive response from Fortuners. In a month, there were more than fifty books collected!
On May 8, 2013, FORU represented by the Corporate Communications division handed all donation directly to children in the Nursery School fostered by the company. The donated books were very diverse, ranging from story books, science books, children activity books, to magazines.
Seeing the many books that were given, the kids were instantly jumping up and down in excitement. They scrambled to read ‘new residents’ of the bookshelves in their class! Obviously, their joy was owing to the generosity of all Fortuners who were willing to set aside some part of their property to help the children.
Sarwadi as the principal of the nursery school could not hide her excitement. Now, we have a program called Book Journal. “Through this program, a story with a monthly theme that we have scheduled will be read every morning. Thus, the book donation is very helpful to us, especially to foster children’s interest in reading and help their learning process,” said the middle-aged woman.
One of the nursery school teachers, Teti Herawati, was no less excited. According to her, the books donated by Fortuners will help the children’s learning process that are now increasingly promoted intensively. “So, they will be able to read when entering elementary school,” said the veiled woman.
The books given by Fortuners will also be more useful for the new school year begining in July. “There are 481 children under five in Kelurahan Ragunan. The nursery school is trying as hard as possible to be able to accommodate and educate them all. As well as possible, “said Teti.
For Fortuners who have donated books for the nursery school, the whole teaching team representing the children thanked very much. No matter how small the aid is, all Fortuners have contributed to the children’s success in the future. The reward of contributing knowledge, even if it is just a little, is the good deeds that will be endless!
In the morning of the 8th of May 2013, the Fortuners returned to the nursery school to provide story books and also other reading materials. In the occasion, the books were given for the occasion of the World Book Day on April 23, as well as Education Day on May 2. The children of the nursery school were so excited and enthusiastic when they saw the books that they scrambled to read the new books given by the Fortuners.
The books were a gift from Fortuners, which have been collected during April. It is expected that the books will drive the reading interest of the children and also expand their horizons. The books were welcomed by the teachers and the principal of the nursery school. “These books really help the children here; moreover, there will be a book journal every morning. So the contribution of books really helps the children to learn, “said Ms. Sarwadi.
Now, every morning in the nursery school there is always a book journal that always tells a monthly topic. Incidentally this month, the school discusses about the universe, so the books given by Fortune relating to the universe are very helpful and useful to help the children’s learning. “These books really help children to learn, now the kindergarten students are given an intensive learning in order to be able to read by the time of entering elementary school,” said Ms. Teti, the teacher of nursery school.
The donated books will also be very useful for the future. In July, new students will enroll into the nursery school. Thus, additional books donated by Fortune would be much helpful considering that there are 481 children under five in Kelurahan Ragunan. The school is trying to accommodate these children in order to continue to educate and teach the children under five in Kelurahan Ragunan.