Virginia Veryastuti, Fighting for Children’s Literacy

KOMPAS/ESTER LINCE NAPITUPULU

Virginia Veryastuti

Without regular donors, the literacy movement for children of marginalized families in Jakarta is run by Melati Taman Baca library, which is under the auspices of the Melati Social Working Group. Encouraged by the spirit of sharing, as the initiator of the Melati working group, Virginia Veryastuti, 43, continues inviting volunteers to run the literacy activities.

Virginia, or Vie as she is better known, initiated the Melati working group with her friends, Nandha Julistya and Susetiorini Adiningsih, in 2001. Previously, Vie was often involved in volunteer activities while studying at Gunadarma University. While taking part in the Gelar Kebon social program at Kebun Ragunan in Jakarta, she met Nanda and Rini.

Then, the three of them agreed to work on the literacy movement. They are enthusiastic about doing social activities. Until now, they continue serving children and society.

“From a small chat in the living room of Rini’s house, they agreed to initiate an activity to promote book reading. We see children who rarely read books. In fact, we like reading because of the habits of our parents,” Vie said.

Vie likes reading because her late father, RJ Soenarjo, an elementary school teacher, loved books and was an author of textbooks. She believes reading opens horizons.

They also plan to bring books and lend them to children in the neighborhood around Jakarta. The first step begins with opening a

children’s storybook outlet in a kampung not far from Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in South Jakarta. The activity was combined with health counseling for mothers.

“In the beginning, the children only saw books. We sought ways to get them to read. Then, I started reading books while showing them. At first, I didn\'t understand, anyway, how to run literacy activities. Basically, I just wanted to encourage children to read,” said Vie.

The activities, traveling around on weekends or holidays while carrying books continued. Luckily, there were volunteers who owned cars, so the mobile library could be continued.

“We cannot help all marginalized people. But, we are grateful that some of them, with the presence of the library, have broader horizons and change their life by choice. We want to bring them closer to health facilities and educational opportunities,” Vie explained.

The library’s activities have expanded to involve storytelling and playtime. At that time, Vie liked to write down the activities on a mailing list. “The story of our activities in the mailing list spread. Then, donations started to come in, starting from donors who wanted to donate books, give money or join the activities. We wanted to create a fun and interesting voluntary activity. In fact, at that time, voluntary activities were not as popular as now,” Vie said.

Looking for volunteers

In 2003, Vie decided to rent a small house around Jl. TB Simatupang, South Jakarta. They shared the rental fee of Rp 300,000 per month. “As the activities began to expand, they looked for the name of the institution. Finally, they agreed to name it the Melati KKS working group. We pick melati [jasmine] because although it is small, it can still survive and be useful,” Vie said.

The secretariat of Melati working group, the main activity of which is organizing the mobile library, relocated. In 2005, the secretariat relocated to a rented house not far from Vie’s house.

Vie proposed to stop the mobile library and focus on the Melati Taman Baca library at the rental house on Jl. Ampera, South Jakarta. There are many children from marginalized families living around the rental house. They need public space to play while doing useful activities. In addition, children need to be introduced to reading.

According to Vie, her friends were skeptical about her plan to focus on Melati Taman Baca library. Her friends are worried about the volunteers who are willing to help take care of the library seriously. Because, those who are regularly involved are also too busy with work and other activities. In addition, the book collection is also still limited.

“I said, I will be responsible. If there are no more volunteers who’ll help, I myself will close the library. Thank God, there are volunteers who want to help,” Vie said.

There are many achievements that have been made by the children, who are trained at Melati Taman Baca library, from drawing, coloring and writing competitions to being involved in theater performance at a number of events in Jakarta. In 2014, Melati Taman Baca library was awarded the Creative Community Library by the Education and Culture Ministry.

The literacy activities carried out by the Melati working group are not only through Melati Taman Baca library. They also visit hospitals and tell stories for the children who are hospitalized, such as at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Harapan Kita Hospital and Fatmawati Hospital. In addition, the storytelling activities are also carried out at the house for the disabled. For this activity, Vie invited other volunteers who want to attend to tell stories and share gifts to entertain children.

Book sharing

Melati Taman Baca library also shares to encourage literacy activities. They have a “Putar Buku” event, an activity to exchange books in ten shelters spread across Jakarta. This program was stopped because of the busy activities of the volunteers who had been helping.

In 2017, the book exchange activity was carried out again by providing an initial package containing 130 books. People who want to volunteer and to open their homes as a library can have the initial book package from Melati Taman Baca library.

“We are starting to get serious again to make the Melati working group develop. Some volunteers from the millennial generation began to join and give input,” Vie said.

Vie said, managing a library is not easy. There are times when she faces challenges. Sometimes, because of family or work schedules, activities in the library are abandoned. She was also grateful for the good intention to share with the children and the community through Melati Taman Baca.

“There are always volunteers who come. For me, working on the library is like working with God. As long as we do good things, God always opens the way. Included in management and financing,” Vie said.

Virginia Veryastuti

Born: Jakarta, Aug. 30, 1975 Education: Information and Technology graduate from Gunadarma University, Jakarta Awards: Education and Culture Ministry Award for the creative, Melati Taman Baca library (2014)

Job:

- Editor at Pelangi, PT Media Inovasi Global (2013-present)

- Expert team for Jakarta Library Council in running a program (2014)

- Reporter for Garuda Inflight Magazine

in Indomultimedia Group

(2008-2012)

- Worked at a law consultantcy on intellectual property rights (1998-2002)