Together with the Community: Building a Child-Friendly Library at SDI Marapokot

Taman Bacaan Pelangi continues to spread the joy of reading in Eastern Indonesia. This year, 66 Child-Friendly Libraries will open in Nagekeo Regency, Flores, NTT. SDI Marapokot, after successfully passing several selection stages, is one of the schools chosen, albeit with the requirement to renovate its library building, weathered by time. When news spread that SDI Marapokot had been selected to receive a child-friendly library, the entire village felt a surge of excitement and responsibility. This wasn’t just about constructing a library; it was about creating a haven where children could explore the world through books.

The journey began with challenges typical of coastal areas: walls weathered by salty air, corroded roofing, and worn-out ceiling panels. Determined to turn this vision into reality, Mrs. Yohana Anjelika Seso, affectionately known as Mama Anjel, rallied the school community. With unwavering enthusiasm, she called for a collective effort to renovate the old library.

Together with the school, villagers started to get involved in the library renovation. Some villagers volunteered to donate wood from their small workshops to replace the damaged ceiling panels. Others contributed by donating sand for the foundation and plaster for the walls. Some lent their strength to help repair the library, plastering walls, cementing floors, replacing ceiling panels and roofing sheets, and painting the library walls. There were also mothers who prepared refreshments for the teachers and workers. Everyone played their part.

“Praise God, amidst the joys and challenges of this endeavor, we received tremendous support from various sectors: teachers, villagers, the village government, alumni, and the children themselves were very enthusiastic about realizing the child-friendly library at SDI Marapokot. We participated in collective efforts to renovate both the exterior and interior walls, ensuring comfort. We repaired the damaged parts. Thank you to everyone. I hope the students at SDI Marapokot will be more diligent in borrowing and reading books,” said Mama Anjel. This communal effort not only provided physical support but also moral support and encouragement. Every day, the children of SDI Marapokot witnessed their villagers working hard to achieve a shared dream: having a comfortable library filled with quality books for the future generation.

Now, the child-friendly library stands proudly at SDI Marapokot, bringing pride and happiness to the entire village. Children joyfully gaze at bookshelves filled with fascinating stories. Mama Anjel smiles contentedly, seeing the results of their hard work, happy that they have provided something valuable for the future of education for the children of Marapokot. The child-friendly library at SDI Marapokot is not just a place for reading and learning but also a symbol of the strength of communal effort and unity within the community in achieving shared goals. Congratulations to the children of SDI Marapokot on having a child-friendly library, and may you continue to read joyfully!”