Every big movement begins with the initiative to do good.

That spirit is what motivated Indira to join as a volunteer at the Taman Bacaan Pelangi booth during the Jakarta Literacy Festival, organized by the Provincial Library and Archives Office of DKI Jakarta on October 14–19, 2025. She came to greet children, help manage the booth, and pass on the joy of reading. Let’s hear her story and motivation.

Indira (center) was listening to a visitor who was reading aloud, accompanied by Lulu, a fellow volunteer

What made you interested in becoming a Taman Bacaan Pelangi volunteer?

I was interested in volunteering with Taman Bacaan Pelangi (TBP) because I really enjoy volunteer work, especially those related to literacy and interacting with children. I believe reading is a fundamental foundation that helps children open their minds and broaden their horizons. That’s why I wanted to contribute, even in a simple way, such as helping at the TBP booth and engaging with children at the Jakarta Literacy Festival 2025.

What volunteer activities have you been involved in before?

I have volunteered several times with various organizations, foundations, and communities, both in Indonesia and abroad. Most of these activities focused on teaching and social activities in orphanages. I’ve volunteered in Jakarta, Bandung, Jogja, Semarang, and even in Malaysia and Thailand. These experiences have always taught me something new—not only academically, but also about empathy and seeing the world from different perspectives. For me, being a volunteer is not only about helping, but also about growing together and spreading happiness, even in small ways.

Taman Bacaan Pelangi booth at the Jakarta Literacy Festival 2025

Was there a memorable moment during your time volunteering with TBP?

Even though I could only join for three days out of the week-long event, every day brought new, funny, and unforgettable experiences.

Imagine this: every day, I took a Gojek motorcycle ride to Taman Ismail Marzuki, and the journey took almost three hours. In the heat of the afternoon too! Yet somehow, my enthusiasm never faded.

On the first day, only two visitors stopped by, but on the next two days, the booth was packed! Business was booming! We even ran out of merchandise that was supposed to last a whole week in just one day.

And in the middle of the blazing heat, Kak Devi always showed up with trendy iced coffee! So spirits stayed high and throats stayed happy, ready for more lively interactions with visitors.

What truly stayed with me wasn’t just the crowd, but the meaningful conversations with visitors who wanted to know more about TBP. Many were interested in the programs and took home brochures. It felt wonderful to be a small part of spreading the spirit of literacy.

Indira with fellow volunteers and the Taman Bacaan Pelangi team

What are your hopes for TBP in the future?

My hope for Taman Bacaan Pelangi is that it continues to succeed and expand its reach to children across Indonesia. TBP has a noble mission in promoting reading habits among children, and I hope more people—both from the government and private sector—will support this mission, whether by donating books or collaborating on literacy programs with TBP. May TBP continue to ignite the love of reading and bring positive impact to Indonesia’s young generation. Taman Bacaan Pelangi—keep shining strong!