Today, for Indonesians, English is no longer strange: in fact it’s a requirement for many jobs. Most parents introduce the language to their children from an early age, and it’s taught in schools beginning from kindergarten. English-language skills are seen as the key to a better future.

Lempake Village is a village in Samarinda City. It’s really hard to get there, because the access is not really good. Lempake 015 Elementary School in the village became a partner of Tanoto Scholars Association Mulawarman, made up of Tanoto Foundation scholarship recipients at Mulawarman University. One of TSA Mulawarman’s programs is TSA Mengajar, which provides English-language tuition to the students at Lempake 015 Elementary School.

Hi T-Friends hari ini seru loh, kita belajar tentang profession, mau tau adek-adek cita-citanya apa? https://t.co/ewVlTs19lE #tanotoscholars pic.twitter.com/5eT67dtJcO

— TanotoScholarsUnmul (@TSA_Unmul) May 13, 2017

This program is held every Saturday from 3.30-5pm and focuses on English because, although it has been made part of the school’s curriculum, its implementation not going well due to a lack of teaching staff. Students introduce English vocabulary by category, such as classroom objects, professions, animals, vegetables, fruits and daily activities. In addition to using classroom learning methods, they also use fun methods like games to help students remember what they learned in the classroom. This program gas proved to be effective for students at Lempake 015 Elementary School. Whenever they are given practice questions, they always got a perfect score.

Sampai jumpa sabtu depan ya adik adik, tetap semangat belajar ?? #TanotoScholars pic.twitter.com/qGr7GCqK44

— TanotoScholarsUnmul (@TSA_Unmul) May 14, 2017

TSA Mulawarman hopes that the English training given in TSA Mengajar will help the students in the next level of education. In addition, they are expected to compete with those who have enjoyed better facilities in English education. Their villages may be underdeveloped but it’s not an excuse not to learn English, and by this program they can prove their ability.

Jambi Provincial Library and Archives Department held a talk show and dialogue in Jambi University on May 5, 2017. The activities were supported by Tanoto Foundation and attended by Zumi Zola, the Governor of Jambi; Sutan Adil Hendra, Member of Parliament; Woro Titi Haryanti, Deputy of Library Resources Development, National Library; and Najwa Shihab, Indonesian Reading Ambassador 2016-2020.

The talk show and dialogue was entitled “The Spirit of Literacy in the Middle of the Millennial Age”. It can not be denied that today, the millennial are hesitant to read books. Books are onto into gadgets with interesting social media presentation. Millennials and their gadgets are like best friends who can not be separated. Gadgets could be a vitamin or a poison, and Millennials must use them wisely.

Najwa Shihab told the audience that by reading, you could gain more knowledge, broaden your imagination, and sharpen your logic. Furthermore, she said that reading books can extend your life span: researchers from Yale University concluded that book readers had a span of 23 months more than non-readers.

Ciri khas Mba Nana, dari buku yg aku baca tentang @NajwaShihab dituliskan Mba Nana memang suka buat puisi ya combine aja. ? pic.twitter.com/mO5hK8Mlgm

— Judika Raja Gukguk (@judikargg) May 5, 2017

Fake news is a hot topic, and Najwa responded to this phenomenon by encouraging people to read more books to act as a filter. She added that by reading a lot, it will train the senses so we will not believe easily any information without confirming it first. But to be a comprehensive reader, you should train continuously.

Whenever she visits Jambi, Najwa keeps campaigning on the importance of reading books. On this occasion, Najwa also shared some reading tips: read an interesting book so you enjoy it, make it a habit, and use your free time to read books. It is advisable to always carry a book wherever you go, so you could read it anytime.

– Buku menarik (semenarik gebetan ups)
– kebiasaan, paksa melatih
– gunakan waktu luang (nunggu dosbing, misalnya) @NajwaShihab

— Judika Raja Gukguk (@judikargg) May 5, 2017

Dalam kunjungannya ke Provinsi Jambi, Najwa Shihab terus menerus mengkampanyekan kegemaran membaca buku, pada kesempatan kali ini, Najwa shihab berbagi tips untuk giat membaca, yaitu: bacalah buku yang menarik, sehingga kita mampu menikmati buku tersebut, jadikan kegiatan membaca buku sebagai kebiasaan dan manfaatkan waktu luang untuk membaca buku, disarankan untuk selalu mengantongi buku ke manapun kita melangkah.

Selain itu, @tanotoeducation pun memiliki program Pelita Pustaka, mengkampanyekan membaca dengan cara yang seru dan menarik via games pic.twitter.com/uZEUq5fr6C

— Judika Raja Gukguk (@judikargg) May 5, 2017

At the event, Tanoto Foundation provided a reading booth to introduce its Pelita Pustaka Program, which delivers exciting ways to read through various creative games. Dendi S Buana, Regional Project Manager at Tanoto Foundation, also voiced his passion for increasing literacy.

Technological development is an accomplishment, so we must use it wisely. It is hoped that the technological era won’t diminish the spirit of literacy, but help raise it through innovative ways.

It may be located approximately 3km to the southeast of Diponegoro University, but Jabungan Village has not enjoyed rapid development. Jabungan is located on the outskirts of Semarang City, so this village is far from the impression of urban progress and hustle and bustle.

Muflikun, the headmaster of Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Al Khaeriyah, one of the Islamic schools in Jabungan Village, said that the percentage of children in the village who continue their education to junior high school is quite small. He said it’s because their motivation and awareness of the importance of education is not really high. Even for those who are aware of education, there are still many other factors inhibiting them, such as limited teachers, facilities and infrastructure.

[LIVE REPORT]
Happy Weekend T-Friends!
Nah ini pekan ke-3 @TSA_Undip mlakukan kgiatan TSA Mengajar di Desa Jabungan, gmna keseruan kita ya pic.twitter.com/2JCtBeYsqP

— TanotoScholarsUNDIP (@TSA_Undip) May 20, 2017

Looking at these alarming facts, the Tanoto Scholars Association of Diponegoro University (TSA Undip), made a program for Jabungan Village. On April 29 TSA Undip held a Saturday CERIA (Cerdas, Riang, Gembira) activity in this village. The event began with a gymnastics session and then milk distribution to the children.

After the gymnastics session, Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Al Khaeriyah students were divided into several categories, namely small classes (level 1-2), middle class (level 3-4), and large classes (level 5-6). With fun teaching techniques and the use of props and activities, the student were taught that learning is not always boring.

“I deeply appreciated the program from TSA Undip who are willing to teach us. I also saw that the students are very happy with this, “said Pak Muflikun.

Through this event, TSA Undip provided knowledge and happiness to the students in Jabungan Village.