The mission to reduce gadget use among children is a collective responsibility. With gadget use in Indonesia now affecting even toddlers, creating a joyful and engaging real-world environment is a duty that must be fulfilled.
In response, Good News From Indonesia (GNFI) has partnered with Kampung Lali Gadget (KLG) to launch the 100 Gadget-Free Play Communities Movement. This initiative provides training and support for communities to help limit gadget usage among children.
"This movement is more than just a program—it's a long-term investment in building a physically, mentally, and socially healthier generation of Indonesians. GNFI strives to serve as a catalyst for collaboration, ensuring this change can reach more children and communities,” said Wahyu Aji, CEO of GNFI.
Kampung Lali Gadget itself is a grassroots movement that offers a solution to distance children from smartphones by introducing them to traditional games. In this village, children have access to various traditional games such as kitiran bambu, kitiran klutuk, toktok, and gasing bunyi.
The village is located in Pagerngumbuk Village, Wonoayu District, Sidoarjo Regency, East Java Province.
Scaling Up: The 100 Gadget-Free Play Communities Program
The strategy used by Kampung Lali Gadget has proven effective and impactful in addressing issues related to excessive gadget use. Recognized as an Astra Kampung Berseri (KBA), KLG even received an award at Astra Indonesia’s SATU Indonesia Awards 2021.
Given its significant impact, this strategy will now be replicated across Indonesia through the 100 Gadget-Free Play Communities Movement, initiated by GNFI in collaboration with Kampung Lali Gadget. The aim is to establish 100 versions of KLG in various regions nationwide.
This initiative marks an important step, as the mental, intellectual, and emotional well-being of children is a highly valuable long-term investment for the nation.
“We believe that Indonesia’s future begins with happy and active children. The 100 KLG Replication Program is our small contribution to providing a community-based solution so children can go back to playing, learning, and growing—free from screen dependence,” Wahyu Aji explained.
This program also represents a joint effort by GNFI, KLG, and participating communities to support the Ministry of Communications and Digital’s (Komdigi) commitment to limiting smartphone and social media use among children.
“The phenomenon of gadget addiction among children is a serious challenge that we must tackle together. Kampung Lali Gadget has shown how traditional play and social activities can help children rediscover joy in the real world. With support from GNFI and communities across Indonesia, we’re optimistic that this movement can generate a broader and more sustainable impact,” said Achmad Irfandi, Founder of Kampung Lali Gadget.
Limiting Smartphone Use Through Traditional Games and Social Interaction
The core strategy of GNFI and KLG is to replicate 100 Kampung Lali Gadget (KLG) through various community initiatives. The GNFI X Kampung Lali Gadget: 100 Gadget-Free Play Communities Movement is an initiative aimed at empowering communities to help children break free from gadget addiction by creating play spaces centered on social interaction, traditional games, and creative activities.
Later, 30 selected communities will receive intensive support in the form of training, mentoring, and monitoring over a period of three months to help them build a healthy, gadget-free play ecosystem.
These selected communities will also receive certification, opportunities to collaborate with various stakeholders, and support for sustaining the program in the long term.
“Since its inception, Kampung Lali Gadget has been on a mission to restore joy to children’s lives through play without gadget dependence. Together with GNFI, we aim to expand the impact of this movement by engaging more communities across Indonesia. We hope this initiative will go beyond just being a program and evolve into a sustainable movement that transforms how children play and interact in the digital age,” concluded Achmad Irfandi.
