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Nine-month literacy program
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| An elderly man practices his writing during one of the literacy classes run through local tutors by the Indonesian Bible Society in Central South Timor in 2004. Photo: IBS (INO05DJ-8.JPG) |
INDONESIA — People from many different backgrounds – teachers, farmers, church elders and pastors, among others – were called into service by the Indonesian Bible Society (LAI) last year to assist with an ambitious literacy project. In collaboration with local churches, LAI worked to give reading to several thousand adults and children in the province of Central South Timor over a nine-month period.
“Patience and diligence were a must
for the tutors,” says Budi Kadarmanto, head of LAI’s Communications
Department. Although they were all keen to learn, those who attended
the classes varied greatly in age and character, posing significant
challenges for the tutors. Another problem, explains Mr Matias, one
of the 200 tutors, was that adult students had many responsibilities.
“When they were studying their attention was sometimes elsewhere,
perhaps with their farms, their children or their livestock. To deal
with this, I attracted their attention by inviting them to sing along
with me, because they enjoyed singing before beginning to focus on their
studies.”
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| Young and old students in one of the literacy classes run through local tutors by the Indonesian Bible Society in Central South Timor in 2004. Photo: IBS (INO05DJ-6.JPG) |
Energy
For some students, even getting to a class involved a considerable sacrifice of time and energy. Many were farmers who could not leave their fields for very long. Others had chores at home. “I had to walk for 2 kms [1.2 miles] to join the study group,” says one participant. “I brought my baby with me when I was studying because there was nobody at home.”
The tutors’ efforts in guiding the
participants towards a basic level of literacy were supported by regional
co-ordinators, usually pastors. They, too, were required to have a full
understanding of the type of background from which students might come.
They made regular visits to see classes taking place, and on these visits
often met people like 25-year-old Yusak Bin. He is so enthusiastic about
the impact of literacy on his own life that he now wants to bring these
skills to others.
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| A mother and daughter at one of the literacy classes run through local tutors by the Indonesian Bible Society in Central South Timor in 2004. Photo: IBS (INO05DJ-7.JPG) |
“I have never been to school in my life,” he says, “so I never knew about alphabets or numbers. But now I can read and write. It’s so wonderful for me. I want my friends who cannot read and write to have an opportunity like this too, and I am willing to help them.”
In overall charge of the literacy program was Milka Derma Manguma. She knows that acquiring literacy skills can also greatly improve people’s understanding of the Scriptures. “It is important that people do not only learn to read and write,” she says. “They must also come to know the Word of God by heart. I hope that churches and local government will continue what LAI has started, so that all Christians in Central South Timor can read God’s Word for themselves and understand what the Bible means.” And it was this vision – that, through gaining literacy skills, people will be made into “performers of God’s word” – that sustained her as she travelled long distances, often by foot, between the various study groups.
With 2,300 people having successfully achieved at least some degree of literacy through this program, LAI is now planning to provide consultancy services as churches and government organisations undertake follow-up work. (WR 393/8 - 06.05) [4 photos]