It’s time for another We Are the World Blogfest #WATWB, started by Damyanti Biswas. In light of all the tragic, political, warring news we typically hear from around the world, Damyanti Biswas asked bloggers to highlight a news story that “shows love, humanity, and brotherhood.”
As a children’s author, this article about the Rainbow Reading Gardens really resonated with me. Well, more than that, Pak Baco’s story that he tells on YouTube made me cry. I cried because learning about people like him shows me there are good people in this world. Compassionate, caring people who are willing to step up and make a difference in others’ lives. In this case, Mr. Baco offered his house to be used as the local library. And instead of taking his afternoon nap, he became the “unlikely librarian.” I also have to give a big shout out to Nila Tanzil, the founder of the Rainbow Reading Gardens, which now has 29 libraries reaching 6,000 children in remote villages across 14 islands in Indonesia.
Please visit these other blogs for more good news, and let me know of any that you may have!
Belinda Witzenhausen, Emerald Barnes, Eric Lahti, Inderpreet Uppal, Lynn Hallbrooks, Mary Giese, Michelle Wallace, Peter Nena, Roshan Radhakrishnan, Simon Falk, Susan Scott, Sylvia McGrath, Sylvia Stein
And you’re welcome to join the blogfest and “speak for peace.” Blogs are posted the last day of each month for the rest of 2017. Visit Damyanti’s website for details.
Linda Covella, Author 
Hi Linda – what a brilliant man Pak Baco is … he’s obviously thirsting for knowledge too – which he then imparts to the children. This is one amazing story … and I love it. How he hopes his children (all) will go to university so they can go out into the world of humanity and help all spreading hope and love … great WATWB post …cheers Hilary
Thank you, Hilary. Good point that he, too, is “thirsting for knowledge”!
I wonder how many American books wind up in Rainbow Reading Gardens. Yet another reason We Need Diverse Books.
What a wonderful thing to read about today! Thank you, Elsie.
Hey, Jen, thanks for stopping by my blog. 🙂 I see the Rainbow Reading Gardens have English-language books, so I assume some might be by U.S. authors, but it’s hard to say. I agree, the We Need Diverse Books is a great campaign, and we definitely need more!
I love this story as I love libraries ☺ Well, I don’t really use them now but when I was a kid, I was “that weird one” who went to the library every week. It’s great that now these communities have access to great stories as well.
I also shared a story about educating people, very different but hope you’ll like it ☺
Thanks, Miss Andi! I also love libraries when I was young. My mother was a school librarian and she’d bring books to me until I started going on my own, so I love this story and others like it! I did read your blog post, and Shristi is an amazing woman to be helping and educating women; especially in some of these countries like India.
“Books helped to make me who I am today.” How many of us can say that. Good for the Rainbow Reading Gardens and all their helpers. They are doing a noble, and moving, thing. Thanks for sharing.
I can definitely say that, Simon! Thank you for your comment!