ARF operates mobile library (also know as mobile learning
center) to serve children both in villages and in
camps, shelters, and barracks. Due to shortage of fund, the service is
curried out by volunteers using motorcycles/scooters. Thanks for
the recently acquired fund from APAS, ARF is in the process of
purchasing a van which will be remodeled into a mobile library.
Schedule for regular visits to various communities is designed
to enable as many children as possible to have maximum access
to, and full benefit from the facility. The mobile learning
centers provide facilities where children can borrow/read books
as well as participate in organized fun, learning activities.
Modules for learning activities are being developed to train
volunteer educators who will operate the center.
Books fro the library has been donated by Aceh and Nias
Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (Badan Rehabilitasi dan
Rekonstruksi Aceh dan Nias), 1001buku, and many individuals from
the US other countries.
In addition, ARF helps sponsor the travel xpenditures for two
expert story tellers from Jakarta to Banda Aceh to train
volunteers for the mobile library. The volunteers are eager to
start with their activities which will become a reality once the
purchasing and remodeling work of the van is finalized.
Thorough this progrram, ARF also plans to purchase school
text books and other school supplies to be given for free to
needy children. Prior to the tsunami, text books were not
available for free. Parents often had to spend hefty sum of
monies to equip their children with text books and school
supplies to attend school. With the lost of livelihood because
of the tsunami, many parents are no longer able to provide
their children with schooling. Free distribution of text books
and other school supplies is essential for children and goes a
long way in reducing the financial burden faced by their
families. Text books and school supplies purchased by ARF will
be housed in a collection center operated by ARF's affiliate. A
system of delivery of text books and school supplies to schools
will be developed to enable the materials to reach the children
with the least bureaucracy.