The History of the Indonesian Foundation
September 2002, in Bandung, a one day Seminar was held by D3400 in response to the Literacy Promotion declared by Rotary International to discuss about CLE ( Concentrated Language Encounter ) method and how to increase reading interest of people especially children in Indonesia.
Early in 2003, some efforts were made to locate building for the small libraries preferably those under the care of the Rotary Clubs. For example in a school compound with a number of student as Rotary Scholarship recipients.
Other posible location may include local mosque, church or other place in community.
Nine Rotary Clubs agreed to start with ten Small Library Pilot Project as the District 3400 Pilot Project.Initially used books were donated by the Rotarians with a small percentage of new books.
In June 2003, at District Conference in Semarang, the team of the Pilot Project had a talk with Rtn. Frans J.M. van den Brink from RC Hilversum- West the Netherlands, who was interested in the program and promised to help with the fund to develope the ten Pilot Project.
Mid 2004, fellow Rotarians from RC Hilversum-West organized the Hilversum-Alive Event to raise fund. The Cordaid Foundation in Den Haag contributed some fund that allowed RC Hilversum-West to transfer as much as 15.000 euro for the Pilot Project.
The fund was sent as Club to Club Service between RC Hilversum-West and RC Bandung Kota Kembang.It will be used to add new books and book shelves for three consecutive years.
Rtn Frans, Rtn Hans Westerveld came to Indonesia again and attended Bali 'celebrate 100 years Rotary' District Conference in February 2005.
Followed by Rtn Frans visits to Rotary Clubs in Bali, Makassar, Semarang and Purwokerto, he came to Bandung for a week 20 March-27 March 2005 to visit the Small Library pilot project. He was so delighted that he promised to help with 100 Small libraries to be under the care of all the Rotary Clubs of D3400, Indonesia.
In one discussion, it was agreed that the fund would be used to finance the project for the next five years adopting the same system of the Pilot Project.
Due to the large of the fund, fellow Rotarians from RC Hilvesum- West suggested that an independent foundation be set up.
Upon the consents of PDG T.Syamsu and IDG Rodolfo C. Balmater ( The Foundation) Yayasan Pondok Baca Rotary Indonesia was established at 6 June 2005 with DR. Wiratni Ahmadi SH Notary Public witnessing.
