Rumah Baca Aksara: A Collective Movement for Literacy

During my break after spending three weeks working in the fields in Wakos, I came back to my home in Ruteng to relax and enjoy some time with my family.

At noontime, I decided to visit the reading house which is located just a few minutes away from my home. Yes, Rumah Baca Aksara is the name of that place where I could find books to read, located on the outskirts of my small town.

My steps slowed as I approached the house. I couldn’t believe my eyes seeing so many newly planted vegetables by the front yard of the building. Green beans tied up by bamboo to grow, some new seeds in the bags, used bottles to fence the vegetables, coffee flowers spreading their scent strongly, and flowers set beautifully around to welcome guests before entering the house.  There was a clear message appeared in my mind, that this is how a reading house should be. This feeling would undoubtedly give anyone a warm welcome.

The building of Rumah Baca Aksara (Source)

Just a year ago before this Rumah Baca Aksara was established, the founder Jeril and I got ourselves involved in a small meeting over just small cups of coffee to really think what to do to help the community, and now we sat again in the same place, again over cups of coffee as we sat to review how far the project had come.

Still fresh in my memory, I started to remember year before when reading activities took place in an open area, a small square of land next to a kitchen. We could hear Mama Sin, Jeril’s mom, shouting as hot cooking oil touched her skin while she was frying bananas. We remembered aunt Cika busy washing plates while children sat around drawing.  Jeril and I began to smile and laugh as we talked of these memories.

Jeril guided children to read books at the space next to the kitchen

Since then the reading house has continuously been changing. From nothing to something, from zero to hero. Not exaggeration, because nowadays the Rumah Baca Aksara has become very well recognized in the town, not just because of the beauty of the building, but also due to the movement which attract many people, especially millennials.

Rumah Baca Aksara became a public library where people can gather to read and lend books, not only that, Rumah Baca Aksara is also a room for people to discuss hot issues, a center of arts, and playground for children.

Jeril said “the philosophy of the name Aksara Reading House itself comes from my simple dream about the concept of a family library at home. But along with its development, the idea has progressed and chosen to be developed into a larger learning space. All of that is thanks to the cooperation, loyalty and solidarity of friends who are engaged in literacy”.

Meanwhile, related to the choice of the name “Aksara” itself, Jeril said "it is taken from the meaning of the word symbol (language) which is eternal. Humans have known “Aksara” since ancient times as a medium of communication. And because it is eternal, the selection of the name “Aksara” which also starts from the name of Jeril’s son, “Aksara”, that he hoped the literacy movement will continue to grow in the midst of the Manggarai community".

Jeril, who graduated from the University of Bali and worked as a journalist, had come home, bringing his experience and passion to make his dream come true. His dream, to advance the community by building a house of literacy has become a reality. No, he never comes up with his name, I never heard him saying “I” out of his mouth, but he mentioned with confidence a community for making the reading house really happen.

While leaning back and enjoying drinking his coffee, Jeril reminisced how he went down the street to look for friends to join. Friends who had the same passion, who were willing to spend time, energy, money and thought to advance the community and even largely a town.

He admitted that to find such friends was not as easy as he had thought. He and his wife used to go to a park near the centre of Ruteng town twice a week to make a move called “Literasi Bergerak”. Just by the entrance to the park, they spread their mat and hung black flags reading “Literasi Bergerak” (movement of literacy) and “Mari Berkawan” (let’s be friends) in white letters.

Jeril pointing out to students who passed by some books they might be interested (source).

Jeril hoped that by doing the movement, he could gather lots of people, and find people who were interested in joining his reading house. Therefore the more the better people get to understand what literacy is.

Time after time, he was soaked by rain, bullied by passers-by who thought he was selling products, accused of being a homeless guy, and kicked out by officials for using a public facility without permission, but Jeril was never seen to give up, and eventually found the friends he’d been looking for. Friends who used to visit his hangout and till now had struggled for the same movement.

As well as his campaigning, Jeri said that he used together involved in meetings run by writers in the town, hoping to meet other people who could help him in reaching his dream there he found some young people who he thought he could ask to join.

Arin, who I met at the reading house, shared how he was first introduced to the Rumah Baca Aksara and got to know Jeril.

“While at a wedding party I was seated between some people I didn’t know. We smoked and drank "arak" together. We began talking to one another, and ended up talking about books”. Arin showed Jeril’s reaction was very enthusiastic. Arin said to himself ”There he is”,  a man who he had been looking for. 

They planned and collected books together, and struggled together as a community.

Ghonsa Thundang, a guy who spends most of his time painting, shared how he first came to join the reading house.

He said ”I’ve joined a few communities accommodating people who work in the arts, but they only lasted for a few days before because some people wanted to be famous and being well mentioned, but forgot the hard work the community had made”. And then he joined the Rumah Baca Aksara where he could continue creating and struggling as part of a community.

My friend Tibot shared his experience after a year of belonging to the Rumah Baca Aksara. A very creative person, Tibot found that by discussing with the community and reading books he could create things he is happy to make like cloth designs, paper recycling, making wine and organic fertilizers.

Members of Rumah Baca Aksara (source)

Swedish university students Patrick and Mette were my business guests when I took them to see the Rumah Baca Aksara. For them traveling is not just a holiday, but an opportunity to see and learn the differences and uniqueness of the world. While visiting the reading house they shared their reading culture in front of the community members and the children during their Saturday sessions.

Patrick and Mette at Rumah Baca Aksara (Source)

Jeril should be very proud of what he has made. Finding 20 loyal friends was not as easy as it looked. He faced lots of obstacles from neighbors who didn’t understand what he was trying to achieve, but as he said, “consistency is my keyword”. “I do not expect my name, or the reading house to be famous, but all I want is to keep on going and keeping the community alive”.

After just one year, the Rumah Baca Aksara has shown meaningful examples of how to grow along your dream. It has many social and educative actions and projects I will share in the next article.