Yahoo – AFP, Nick Perry, July 15, 2016
Children sort through books on a shelf hanging from Luna the horse in Serang, Indonesia's main island of Java (AFP Photo/Adek Berry) |
Astride his
white mare, a wide-brimmed hat shielding his eyes, Ridwan Sururi looks more
cowboy than librarian as he winds towards the hilltop village, his horse Luna
saddled with books.
Their
arrival sends ripples of excitement through Serang, a quiet hamlet fringed by
rice fields and a volcano on Indonesia's main island of Java.
"The
horse library!" children shriek, sprinting towards the mosque where Luna
is tethered. Slung over her saddle are two handmade wooden boxes filled with
books.
Ridwan
Sururi, who runs a mobile library
on horseback, selects books for villagers
to
read in Serang (AFP Photo/Adek Berry)
|
Sururi, a
43-year-old professional horse groomer, devised a unique way to encourage
reading in his district.
Armed with
Luna, one of several horses under his care, and about 100 books donated from a
friend, Sururi began road-testing his novel mobile library in early 2015,
unsure if it would succeed.
It was a
huge hit. In no time, the father of four was fielding requests from schools and
villages further afield, eager crowds greeting him on arrival.
"The
kids are always waiting for my horse and I," Sururi told AFP.
"Sometimes
they even form a queue, waiting a very long time just to borrow a book."
Broadening horizons
In Serang,
enthusiastic youngsters flick through picture books, young adult titles and
even some classics in English.
Some shyly
pet Luna while waiting their turn to browse. Sururi believes the gentle nature
of his six-year-old mare helps attract children, and pique an early interest in
the books.
For many in
Serang, this unique mobile library is their only link to books
(AFP Photo/Adek
Berry)
|
"The
horse makes me happy," said 10-year-old Arif, who like many Indonesians
goes by one name, before settling in to read a book titled "Wild
Animals".
But it's
not just children discovering a love for reading via this charitable community
library.
Adults are
almost just as enthusiastic, many pausing work and emerging from their homes as
Sururi and Luna pass through the narrow lanes of one village.
Seventeen-year-old
Warianti, perusing titles alongside her elderly mothers, said villagers of all
ages benefited from Sururi's visits, as most did not have time to source books
elsewhere.
"The
horse library helps increase the knowledge of local women through
reading," she told AFP.
Adult
literacy rates in Indonesia have climbed steadily in recent years, reaching
nearly 96 percent in 2013, according to data from the ministry of education.
But some
provinces remain far behind others. Central Java, where Sururi makes his
rounds, is lagging in the bottom third nationwide.
Nearly five
percent -- or close to one million -- adults in this mainly rural province
remain illiterate. Sururi is aware of this, growing up in Central Java without
access to a great deal of books.
But the
altruistic stable hand never underestimated the importance of reading, leading
to his free-of-charge mobile book loaning service.
"That's
the aim of the horse library, so that everyone can broaden their horizons, gain
knowledge, become more intelligent," he said.
Sense of
pride
Outside his
simple home, Sururi has cleared an area where he dreams of building a permanent
library, one stocked with many books and -- perhaps one day -- a computer.
Nearly 5%
-- or close to one million -- adults in mainly rural Central Java
province
remain illiterate (AFP Photo/Adek Berry)
|
But for
now, everything is done by hand. The spines of all books are clearly labelled
with a code for identification, and he keeps meticulous records so books are
returned on time.
Like a
conventional library, books can be borrowed free of charge but cannot be loaned
forever.
In Serang,
Sururi checks his notebook and tells one boy he needs to first return an
outstanding title before loaning another. The young student sprints off home,
returning a short while later clutching the forgotten item, relieved to see his
pick of choice remains untouched on the shelf.
Once the
flurry of borrowing is over, the children settle down in small circles, bearing
their new books with pride as Sururi packs up for another week.
Soon the
air is filled with the sound of dozens of children reading aloud, older pupils
helping their younger friends with difficult words or phrases.
"When
I see kids chasing my horse I feel so proud," Sururi said.
"I
feel like I'm needed, and that's hugely satisfying."
Horseback library serves Indonesia's remote readers https://t.co/5jSB0FYAKg pic.twitter.com/4GgtkWZ05W— AFP news agency (@AFP) July 15, 2016
No comments:
Post a Comment