According to data from the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Indonesians' reading interest was low, hitting only 0.001%. This means that only 1 out of 1,000 people reads books.
Multiple factors can cause low reading interest, from lack of access to reading materials to the use of technology, making people turn to e-books. However, not all people can access digital books, given that they need a smartphone to read electronic reading materials.
The story of PEKA Reading Community
Luckily, the number of literacy communities aimed at increasing reading interests and providing affordable extra courses to children from low-income families has been growing.
One of the communities is the PEKA Community Reading Park in Pamulang, South Tangerang. One of the initiators, Adang Albanie, said the idea of setting up such a community stemmed from activists’ concerns over the lack of forums for young people to explore their creativity.
“It started from our concerns. We were discussing near the lake. I and several friends assumed that there are young people with excellent creativity, like poetry, photography, and many more. But there were no rooms to showcase their work. Therefore, we set up PEKA (pekan karya/Work Week) every weekend. After that, we did not stop and later set up a reading community,” Albanie said in a WhatsApp chat.
He also thanked Salma, his neighbor, for allowing her house to be the base of the reading community.
Albanie, who is also a music teacher, added that the community received lots of books from fellow activists and colleagues. The community also focuses on affordable education for children from low-income families.
Photo by Adang Albanie
“Every Saturday, we have routine activities where children here can review their school lessons for free. Not all children can pay for courses. Even some of them will go to school on foot as they sometimes do not have cost for transportation. Or their parents work and do not have time to take them to school,” Albanie added.
So far, there are around 40 active children and volunteers in the community.
Activities in the community are not limited to reading and studying. The community also collaborates with schools, universities, and even corporations such as Maybank. PEKA routinely holds exhibitions and performs performances such as storytelling and theatre.
"I encourage my students to perform on stage for various events outside PEKA so they are mentally prepared," he said.
Albanie stated that in the future, the community will collaborate with campuses and schools nearby.
"There will be mentor fron Open Learning University (Universitas Terbuka) and a creativity event from the Islamic State University (UIN). We also encourage those children to manage the reading community," he added.
Book donations continue to pour
Albanie said that the community has just opened a new chapter in Gunung Sindur, Bogor. The community has now served as a sub-community that provides books to literacy groups.
Photo by Adang Albanie
“We are happy that many literacy groups and reading communities rely on us regarding book donations. We even have sent books to cities like Malang and so on,” he said, adding that they will plan to send books again to communities outside Jakarta.
He added that every time book donations come, children and residents nearby come to the base and borrow some books.
“We are grateful for all donations, and hopefully, our new chapter will grow and more children will get access to books suitable for them,” Albani said, concluding the interview.
For further information about the community, click here:https://www.instagram.com/peka.tangsel/
