Gabriella Putri and her fellow Grade 12 students from Tzu Chi Secondary were seen sharing laughs and smiles with primary students from Madrasah Ibtidayah Nurul Islam Kamal Muara (Primary School). Our students could not contain their happiness when they saw the library they had worked on for Nurul Islam Kamal Muara Primary School was finally open for public use. The library, named ‘Perpustakaan Anak Bangsa’ was created in a hope to improve children’s reading interest and literacy skills. 

“We’re decorating this library to look more beautiful,” said Gabriella. Due to the limited space in the school building, the library was built in an empty space in the Jami Al-Huda Mosque, of which construction was also assisted by Tzu Chi Foundation. 

To mark the inauguration of this library, on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 our Grade 12 students visited the library by bringing in some additional books, decorative items, bean bag chairs, and other things that would make the library more comfortable and cheerful. 

"We are happy because we did this on our own, not from our parents’ money but the money we collected ourselves through various events such as bazaar sales, concert tickets, and competitions," Gabriella added.

Since August 2019, Grade 12 students began to design the concept of this library, and started to raise the funds needed to build this. Funds were gradually collected from a total of 7 bazaars held in the school canteen by selling some food, and money collected from holding concerts and competitions.

The initial idea to develop the Nurul Islam Primary library began with Ms Mely Kartono's proposal when the teachers carried out their community service in Kamal Muara on July 9, 2019. She then presented this idea to her students by first taking them to see the school. The students welcomed this project enthusiastically because they saw for themselves that the library in this school was in need of improvement. 

"This is the students’ project, we teachers are only giving them guidance. Students also came up with the name. Some of the books are donations from students, and some were newly bought," she added.

Seeing the hard work of her students to realize this library, Ms Kartono, SA and CAS Coordinator at Tzu Chi Secondary school was very proud of her students. Especially, in the process, the students learn many things.

"Students learned so many things. They had to cooperate with their friends to create this library, and had to interact with people they did not know before in different environments. They also understand their culture, and adapt to our culture," Ms Kartono said.

Head of Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Nurul Islam, Nur Adnan, believes that the new library can be put to good use by his students. The teachers will also try to increase their students' interest in reading. "I am very happy because this is a sharing experience, especially in terms of managing the library. Previously our library was rather small and located in the teacher's office. Since the number of our students are increasing, so the teacher's room is increasingly used by students so we then moved the library to this mosque, "said Mr Adnan.

Ribbon cutting ceremony marked the inauguration of the library. Some games and gift-sharing also make students in both schools got to know each other more. Putri, a Grade 6 student at Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Nurul Islam who aspires to be a doctor, was delighted by the visit of their Tzu Chi School students. Putri also can not wait to read books from their sisters.

"I want you to come here often. Thank you, brothers and sisters from Tzu Chi School, don't get sick in coming here. Oh, yes, thank you too, because I got a pencil, milk, snacks… I am so happy. There were also some games, so much laughter!” said Putri.

Teksan Luis, a Tzu Chi volunteer who used to be in charge of the mosque construction and the house renovation project at Kamal Muara was very pleased with the care and attention given by Tzu Chi School students to the children in the area. 

"Very happy, very happy because it is such a big help for students’ education here. The library allow them to find more books which will give them more knowledge," Teksan said. He also hopes that Tzu Chi's other missions can come here not only in education, but also in environmental conservation, so that the environment is clean, protected from disease, also reduces cases of dengue fever.

Article was translated from: http://www.tzuchi.or.id/read-berita/perpustakaan-untuk-adik-adik-di-madrasah-ibtidaiyah-nurul-islam-kamal-muara/8739