The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted people of all economic levels and even in different generations.  For many Indonesian children and their parents, the past year and a half of schooling has been a struggle due to the pandemic requirement of learning online at home.  Many schools are ill equipped to teach in this manner, leaving parents to pick up the slack.  In October 2020, national partners with a local non-profit foundation initiated a child literacy program to help alleviate the pressure this situation has put on families.  Using the Saya Suka Membaca (or “I Like Reading”) curriculum, program volunteers encouraged kids aged 5 – 8 in not only acquiring adequate reading skills, but also enjoying reading for its own sake. 

National staff shared of one girl, Novi, who was in Grade 1, but still unable to read with confidence.  Her mother would shout at Novi to spur the girl on in her reading efforts, but to no avail.  Day by day, staff members would take turns gently teaching Novi the letters and their respective sounds.  Before long, Novi was sounding out words, and then reading full sentences.  Today, Novi is confidently reading books and loving it!  Our hope is to see more children like Novi experiencing the joy of reading and discovery, even during this time of pandemic restrictions.