VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian Reading Ambassador explains the importance of books in the Indonesian Reading Ambassador's literacy safari event in Bangka Belitung on Thursday October 31st 2024. (Photo : Perpusnas) - 

VOInews, Bangka Belitung : Books can provoke new thoughts and ideas so that people can continue to innovate. The Empowered Reading Ambassadors with Books program invites new writers to document all regional potential in book form so that it can become shared knowledge.

"In addition to adding intellectual products in the form of reading materials, the works of new writers with rich regional cultural content can also be published and disseminated by the National Library," said National Library Main Librarian Nelwaty at the Indonesian Reading Ambassador's literacy safari activity in Pangkalpinang City, Thursday (31/ 10/2024).

Indonesia still faces the problem of an adequate collection of reading materials for its population and unequal access to them. This is of course a shared responsibility. So, it is time for both central and regional governments to synergize and collaborate to meet these needs.

“The National Library cannot work alone. "We hope that regions can replicate similar programs by empowering the role of literacy mothers and regional reading ambassadors," said Nelwaty.

UNESCO requires that the amount of reading material available in society be twice as large as the population. Meanwhile, the current conditions in Indonesia based on the results of the National Library's Community Literacy Development Index (IPLM) study in 2023 are still at a ratio of 1: 11. This means that one book is read by 11 people.

This condition is further exacerbated by the results of research by a national economic institution which states that the majority of Indonesian people who have completed their education are not yet able to understand the content of reading materials that can be useful in their daily lives, including in work matters.

"In fact, a country is called advanced if its population has a reading culture," said the Head of the Development and Development Division of the Babel Library, Abu Hapas.

Local wisdom is a source of strength when you want to write local cultural content, cultural heritage, local advice and traditions. In this way, the community can be involved in preserving and maintaining the authenticity of the region and enriching knowledge.

"Local wisdom is a characteristic of ethics and cultural values ​​in local communities that is passed down from generation to generation," said writer Rusmin Sopian.

Meanwhile, one of the teams from the Pangkalpinang City literacy drive, Rico Ariputa, explained that currently the development of local content is targeting and focusing on the younger generation.

He admitted that his party is currently intensifying efforts to save regional languages ​​by implementing local content in teaching and learning activities in schools.

"We have designed a number of good practices for developing literacy, such as building reading habits from an early age, providing quality reading books, fostering a love of regional languages ​​and providing a literacy-friendly environment," explained Rico//VOI

Deputy Head of UNDP Indonesia Representative, Sujala Pant handing over the youth co:lab module to Deputy for youth empowerment of Youth and Sport Ministry, Dr. Raden Isnanta on Thursday October 31st 2024 in Jakarta. (Photo : NK-VOI) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : In the 7th year of the Youth Colab program launched by UNDP in collaboration with Bapenas, the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture and supported by the Citi Foundation and the British Council, handed over the module to the Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sports in Jakarta on Thursday 31 October 2024.

Deputy Head of UNDP Indonesia Representative, Sujala Pant said that the handing over of this module was important for the sustainability of the program.

"Today is particularly important because we've been doing UNDP together with Ministry of youth and Bapenas and Ministry of culture affairs and human development and offcourse with the support of Citi foundation. We have been working on this project for seven years. So it's a commendation of some very important work. And the handing over of the modul is an important part of Sustainability. So even when this youth colab come to a close, the modul will still be exist, the ministry youth and sport affairs continue to have these tools and resources that they can continue to bring to different community and different young people accross the country", Sujala said. 

The Ministry of Youth and Sports will later integrate the Youth Co:Lab Module on Youth Social Entrepreneurship, which includes material on Digital Marketing, Strategic Finance, and Impact Measurement and Management, into national programs, including the Entrepreneurship Lecturer Facilitator Training Program (ToF), to strengthen the ecosystem youth entrepreneurship throughout Indonesia//NK-VOI 

VOInews, Jakarta: The Badan Wakaf Indonesia (BWI) recently welcomed a visit from the Department of Zakat, Waqf, and Baitulmal of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Brunei Darussalam. The meeting aimed to deepen Brunei's understanding of the mechanisms for managing waqf in Indonesia, with the hope that these insights could be implemented as productive waqf programs in their own country.

Prof. Dr. Kamaruddin Amin, M.A., the Chairman of BWI, elaborated on the organization’s role as an independent authority overseeing national waqf management, directly accountable to the President of the Republic of Indonesia. “BWI functions as both the regulator and protector of waqf nazhir in Indonesia. While we work alongside the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which contributes through regulatory frameworks, our primary focus lies in the development and certification of nazhir,” he stated.

Rapid Growth of Productive Waqf Assets

During the session, Prof. Kamaruddin highlighted the remarkable growth of waqf assets in Indonesia, which span various sectors, including education, social facilities, mosques, and cemeteries. He noted, “Waqf assets in Indonesia are growing at approximately 6% annually and serve diverse functions in accordance with community needs.” Many of these assets are utilized productively to support social and economic programs.

Innovations in Cash Waqf and Cash Waqf Linked Sukuk (CWLS)

BWI also introduced its latest innovation, the Cash Waqf Linked Sukuk (CWLS), which allows individuals to invest in the form of cash waqf. “CWLS is a sharia-compliant investment instrument supported by the government and supervised by the National Sharia Council of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI),” Prof. Kamaruddin explained. This investment is managed productively through two categories: permanent waqf and temporary waqf, with the proceeds directed towards waqf purposes.

Challenges in Enhancing Waqf Literacy

Despite the advancements, significant challenges remain in enhancing community and nazhir literacy regarding productive waqf, particularly cash waqf. Prof. Kamaruddin revealed, “Waqf literacy in Indonesia is still relatively low, standing at only 0.43%. Our greatest challenge is to improve the literacy and competency of nazhir to ensure optimal management of productive waqf.”

In-Depth Discussions with Brunei Representatives

During the question-and-answer session, Brunei representatives expressed their keen interest in learning more about cash waqf management and CWLS in Indonesia. They noted that cash waqf is still relatively new in Brunei and sought to understand how BWI builds public trust and ensures the sustainability of waqf initiatives.

BWI also outlined the regulations governing the development of nazhir, emphasizing the need for certification and stringent oversight. “Nazhir must possess a robust institutional framework, certification, and a minimum of three years of experience in religious matters,” Prof. Kamaruddin added. He stressed the importance of regulations to prevent money laundering in waqf management.

Prospects for Waqf Development in Brunei

This visit is anticipated to serve as an initial step in strengthening ties between Indonesia and Brunei in the realm of waqf, particularly in the development of productive waqf initiatives. “Through the knowledge gained during this visit, we hope that Brunei can implement more advanced waqf management for the social and economic benefit of its communities,” stated Prof. Kamaruddin.

BWI is optimistic that this collaboration will yield significant benefits for both countries, enhancing the positive impact of waqf.

Source: bwi.go.id.

Perpusnas held a socialization of the Culture of Reading Love in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra on Saturday October 26th 2024. (Photo : Perpusnas) - 

VOInews, Deli Serdang : Finland, Sweden, and also East Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea are countries with a high reading culture. With this capital, science and technology will be easy to master.

"There is no developed country in the world without the presence of people who have a culture of reading and high literacy," explained Deputy for Library Resource Development Adin Bondar, starting the talk on Socialization of the Culture of Reading Love in Deli Serdang Regency, Saturday (26/10/2024).

Human knowledge is always developing and is directly proportional to the formation of civilization that occurs. One of the facilities that guarantees the community's need for scientific development is the library.

"Therefore, it is correct to say that libraries are a symbol of civilization and also an instrument of non-formal education to encourage people to learn throughout their lives," added Adin.

The member of Commission X DPR RI, Sofyan Tan, thanked the member of Commission He also believes that in the commanding hands of President Prabowo Subianto, the literacy of Indonesian society will continue to improve.

"He is proven to have concern and closeness to books and the world of literacy," said Tan.

North Sumatra Province, as stated by the Head of the North Sumatra Library and Archives Service, Dwi Endah Purwanti, has a Reading Love Level (TGM) score above the average National TGM score. This is proof of the regional government's seriousness in encouraging a culture of reading in society.

"We continue to collaborate with community reading parks, reading houses, reading corners and literacy motors," explained Endah.

Reading culture and a love of reading are two different levels. In Indonesia, it must be admitted that we are still at the level of efforts to increase the love of reading. Meanwhile, in developed countries they are already at the level of cultivating a love of reading.

“Then, how do you get people to like reading? "Yes, by getting into the habit of reading regularly," concluded literacy activist Ismail Pong.

On the sidelines of the activity, the National Library also symbolically handed over quality reading material assistance to the Deli Serdang Regency government. The assistance provided was in the form of 1,000 copies of reading books along with display shelves//VOI