Nurturing Young Minds at the Gerbang Barito REDD+ Project in Indonesia

In May 2024, Wildlife Works launched a reading club in the remote village of Batampang, where access to education is limited. The initiative aims to foster literacy and environmental awareness among children as part of early investments in the Gerbang Barito REDD+ project. While the project has not yet begun generating carbon credits, we believe it is essential to demonstrate our commitment from the start. These early actions reflect the value we place on trust and collaboration. From its early days, the reading club gained strong support from the local community, especially from Husna, a volunteer tutor who has been instrumental in organizing the reading activities and encouraging children to learn beyond the classroom.

Husna believes that education plays a key role in shaping a child’s future.

“We want our children to grow up smart, with a strong understanding of the value of education and the importance of caring for their environment.”

In Batampang, however, access to books and structured learning activities outside school is still very limted. Recognizing the importance of this initiative, she became one of the first to champion it at the village level, helping turn the reading club into a welcoming space where children can read, borrow books, and engage in discussions. Over time, the space has evolved into more than just a reading area. It’s now also a platform to introduce environmental values through simple, everyday practices like managing waste and keeping the surroundings clean.

Running the initiative hasn’t been without challenges. One major issue is the weather, frequent flooding in the village puts the books at risk, making proper storage a priority. Another ongoing hurdle is the limited number of books. So far, the collection includes around 200 books donated by WWI, individual contributors and local NGOs focused on literacy. Still, the demand for more educational materials, especially for early childhood learning, remains high.

To ensure more children can benefit from the program, Husna has supported efforts to expand the initiative by helping set up a second reading club in another neighbourhood. For children who live too far from the main reading spot, she and her team also started a mobile library, bringing books to different parts of the village using bicycles.

The mobile library has been well received, not just by children but also by parents who borrow books on topics like cooking, parenting, and daily life skills. To maintain order, a simple lending system has been introduced, ensuring that books are returned on time and in good condition.

Despite the limitations, Husna remains optimistic. She hopes the reading initiative will continue to grow and eventually lead to a more structured learning space, where children can gain knowledge not only from books, but also through hands-on experiences. She also wants to encourage greater community participation, particularly in environmental activities, by forming dedicated groups that help keep the village environment clean and well-maintained.

“The most touching moment is when, after just one or two weeks of learning, the children start answering questions. Now, they’re confident and brave, not afraid to try even if they make mistakes.”

Her work has already made an impact, children who previously had little interest in reading are now more engaged, some even trying to learn new languages. With ongoing support from volunteers and community members, she believes that the reading club can continue to provide a meaningful learning experience for the children of Batampang.

Learn more about the Gerbang Barito REDD+ Project here.