East Java Tourism News

Mobile library helps satisfying children’s curiosity for nature

May 14th, 2008

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Malang, East Java

A cheerful mood pervaded the Gumuk hall in Selokerto hamlet, Selorejo village in East Java’s Malang regency, on this particular Sunday.

A boisterous group of children had followed a van from the Petungsewu Wildlife Education Center (P-WEC) to the hall, where they were greeted by a P-WEC volunteer.

Dressed as a lutung (an endangered monkey species native to Java), the volunteer danced to the music blaring from the van’s sound system.

“Come on kids, follow me. Let’s gather in the hall. Let’s read, play and watch films, all for free. Come on…” he screamed over the loudspeaker as he danced.

In the spartan hall with its earthen floor, P-WEC members laid out plastic sheets and folding tables.

About 200 books comprising 150 different titles, mostly on wildlife, were displayed on the tables, next to plywood puzzles of protected Indonesian animals.

The impatient but curious children thronged the tables and rummaged through the rows of books.

“It’s part of our responsibility to local communities. We’ve noticed a very low awareness of nature among children living near the forest because of a lack of reading material. So we came up with this mobile library,” said Yunita Suci Amalia, coordinator of the P-WEC mobile library program.

According to Yunita, the library is a social program aimed at children living on the periphery of the forest. Gumuk is only 500 meters from the forest.

She said many of these children could not afford to read quality books, in spite of their voracious curiosity.

P-WEC responded to this need by devising the mobile library in early 2007. Previously, the education center had only hosted screenings of films, particularly wildlife documentaries.

“We provide not only books but also guides who tell the children stories about nature. So they learn about nature from books and people,” said Yunita.

To set up the library, the center launched a campaign to collect used books and magazines from various donors. Some 13 institutions and several individuals contributed to this drive.

“We collect all kinds of books and periodicals, not just those about wildlife. We even have literature on motoring, agriculture, forestry and skateboarding, because many adults also join the kids whenever we visit,” she said.

To make the experience even more engaging, contests and games are organized for the children. These include story-retelling contests, puzzles and charades.

“That’s how we arouse the children’s interest and make them proud of their forest, so they’ll be more concerned about nature conservation,” said Sri Wahyuni, project manager for P-WEC, who joined the team as a children’s counselor.

However, the program’s limited facilities restrict its operations.

Currently, the mobile library focuses on five villages each month — Sumber Bendo, Petung Sewu, Kucur, Selokerto and Gumuk, all in close proximity to P-WEC.

The high interest shown by children during library calls has prompted Rosek Nursahid, chairman of environmental NGO ProFauna Indonesia, to decide to continue the program and oversee its development. P-WEC is run by ProFauna Indonesia.

“Villagers often ask us to make our visits longer. They say they can’t get enough of the books. So we intend to continue this program,” Rosek said.

Yunita also called for public involvement to help increase children’s knowledge of forests and the environment.

She said she hoped more people would contribute books to the program.

“We receive new or used books. If it’s cash, we may not have enough time to buy books, so it’s better for those wishing to donate to provide books,” she said.

Rosek also hoped the P-WEC visits would encourage communication between P-WEC and surrounding communities.

Many villagers still regard the Wildlife Rescue Center of Petung Sewu and P-WEC as exclusive agencies.

“Everybody is welcome to come here to learn about wildlife and the environment at any time,” said Rosek.

Source: The Jakarta Post

Entry Filed under: East Java News