Why libraries are so necessary in Indonesia?

Thank you very much for keep supporting Sasak Satu Swara, from Indonesia!
As a return to your valuable support, we would like to share with you this month’s Newsletter from the organization that we hope you’d enjoy!

Article of the month:

Why are public libraries so important for education in Lombok?

There are many benefits of reading. It is scientifically proven that read could help children to develop empathy, improve literary skills, gain vocabulary, concentration and also boost their imagination and creativity.
However, reading is not a common habit in Indonesia. According to Levi, the founder of Sasak Satu Swara, approximately 60% of the children can’t read before they are 10 years old and approximately 10% have problems with their reading skills when they arrive at high school.
There are different reasons for this. The main reason is that it doesn’t exist a habit in Indonesia of reading, and parents are not used to buying books for their children. Because children don’t read, it’s not easy for them to master their reading and writing skills properly. Another reason is that the quality in remote areas of Indonesia is not very high.

To prevent the lack of writing and reading schools in the children in their school, Sasak Satu Swara has developed a project where the children visit the public library once per week. Each child can borrow up to 2 books for 15 days. In this library, there are available books of history, comics and also general books for children of different ages.
There are no many libraries in Lombok available for kids. In Central Lombok, there is only one available and it is located approximately around 7 km away from the school where the school of Sasak Satu Swara is located. One only library available in Central Lombok might seem not enough to all the schools located in the area, but it is a big step to promote reading in children and to encourage them to read books. In Airfunding we know that there is much to do to make books available for every child in Central Lombok and to make sure they are able to read at the age of 6 or 7, but it’s an amazing initiative that will definitely improve the quality of education in Central Lombok.

CULTURE OF INDONESIA
What is Eid Al-Adha?
This week was celebrated in Indonesia the festivity of Eid- al- Adha. Eid al-Adha is the second biggest festival for Muslims after Eid al-Fitr. This day celebrates Prophet’s Ibrahim loyalty to god when he was willing to sacrifice his own son under God’s petition.
The story of Prophet Ibrahim in the Quran states that Allah came to Ibrahim in a dream, commanding him to sacrifice his son as a sign of his devotion and submission. As Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son, Allah replaced Ismail with a ram, which was slaughtered in his place. As such, during Eid celebrations, the act of Qurbani (sacrifice) is carried out following the morning Eid Salaah (Eid Prayers), in which a sacrificial animal – a sheep, goat, lamb, cow, bull, or a camel – is slaughtered, to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son for Allah. The Qurbani meat is then divided among family, neighbors, and those in need.
According to Islamic law, 30% of the meat goes to people in need, 30% is given to the neighbors and 30% is kept for the family. During Eid Al- Adha, people pray and visit their families, and sometimes children will get gifts. Everyone will also cook their favorite foods on the day and share big meals as a family.
This date is very important in Indonesia, but due to Covid, many restrictions and measures have been taken and some people have been unable to visit their families or to pray in a group. However, many people have reinvented themselves and have celebrated through video calls or have prayed in their homes. This has shown that besides the country is in lockdown, there are always ways to be in contact with loved ones and celebrate festivities safely following the health protocols.

CURIOSITIES OF INDONESIA
5 places to visit in Indonesia
Indonesia is a country with a lot of things to offer: amazing beaches, spectacular landscapes, and different cultures and traditions on every island you visit. Here is a list with the most wonderful places to visit once Covid is gone.
1. Raja Ampat
Raja Ampat is one of the world’s last wild places. A vast sprawl of tropical island jewels amid seas renowned as being the richest on our planet. A nursery and refuge for coral and fish species that are rapidly disappearing from elsewhere in the region, and the perfect place to really get away from it all.

2. Island of Flores
Flores is the most fascinating and beautiful island. Long hidden in the shadows of its more famous neighbor Bali, the island of Flores is finally emerging as a unique destination of its own. Here, you can swim in pristine lakes and waterfalls, dive at one of the 50 spectacular dive sites, go kayaking among craggy coasts and mangrove shores, explore mysterious caves, and be warmly welcomed by the island’s people in their rituals, dances, and daily life.

3. Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park
Tucked within East Java, Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park is an ethereal yet barren wonderland of volcanic calderas seemingly continuously surrounded by smoke and clouds. The park gets its name from the merging of the Hindu Tengger people and the two mountains found in the park – Mount Bromo and Mount Semeru. The latter is the highest mountain in the Java region, and one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia.

4. Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta is a bustling town of some 500,000 people and the most popular tourist destination on Java, due to its proximity to the famous temples of Borobudur and Prambanan. The city itself is a center of education and culture, particularly for Javanese fine arts – from theater to ballet performances, and has a wide range of tourist facilities. It is also the last Indonesian city still ruled by a monarchy.

Yogyakarta lies in one of the most seismically active parts of Java and has thus repeatedly been struck by earthquakes and volcano eruptions. In 2006 an earthquake flattened over 300,000 houses while in 2010 the nearby volcano of Mount Merapi erupted, spewing lava over nearby villages.

5. Bali
One of the most visited and dreamed-of destinations on the modern traveler bucket list, Bali is a kaleidoscope of beautiful beaches, volcanic hills, lush rice paddies, and thousands upon thousands of Indonesian temples. It’s celebrated for its laidback atmosphere that’s attracted backpackers, surfers, and yogis for years, who have come in search of finding their Zen in this tropical paradise.

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