July 12, 2016 edition

AS soon as the bell signaling the end of school hours rings, around 60 elementary school children would run to the house of the chief of Keta village in East Seram Regency, Maluku. They pile up in one room filled with colorful books. Many will look for the book they were reading the day before, while others will swap theirs with friends in order to start reading a new story.
The reading room was initiated at the beginning of this year by a local youth, Ali Akbar Rumeon, who noticed the literacy rate of the children in his village was far below others in the city. "Kids here played more than they studied. So I tried to think something up for them," said Ali, who is currently a student at Darussalam University in Ambon.

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More Outreach articles in other editions

July 5, 2016 edition

The Chinese Muslim community in several areas in Indonesia promote integration and tolerance by building mosques and holding public events.
The building with the red-and-green faade looks striking in the middle of an elite residential area at Jakabaring, Palembang, South Sumatra. At first glimpse, people could mistake it for a Confucian temple, where Chinese Indonesians go for prayers. Most eye-catching is the Chinese calligraphy written on the outside of the building.

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June 28, 2016 edition

Reviving Imagination
The Medan Storytelling Village community views fairytales as a way to rekindle a love of storytelling, wean youngsters off electronics and instill moral values. Within a few years, interest in the group's activities is surging.

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June 21, 2016 edition

Smoke-Free
A village in South Sulawesi and another in West Sumatra have banned public smoking.

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June 14, 2016 edition

Sustainable Chocolate of Bantaeng
Cocoa farmers in Bantaeng Regency are striving to meet rigorous international certification standards. Already, they have boosted yields and improved livelihoods.

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June 7, 2016 edition

Highland Rice
Farmers in Krayan, North Kalimantan, grow organic rice using traditional agricultural practices. Their achievements have been recognized internationally.

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May 31, 2016 edition

Back from the Brink
A village in North Sulawesi restored its coral reefs and turned itself into a top-flight dive destination. The ecotourism drive is entirely run by the villagers.

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