The Western Java region is growing stronger with a new Regional manager and a new Program staff. Dian Kusumawati fills the post of Regional Manager and Merziz has taken the position overseeing all the Programs. Much of January was devoted to training this new team to orientate them to the mission and vission of Cinta Baca and help them understand the our 2010 goals.

After the basic model of this 5 week Family Reading Program was developed and taught to the staff at the last national staff meeting, it was then tested out in one reading post near Bogor. Here's a brief report from someone who went along and observed:

 “We drove out to the village where the first reading post had opened the last time I was here, to do a trial run of the Family Reading Program there. It was very emotional for me to see the facilitator here working on this, explaining, modeling and having the mothers practice reading a book to their children. There were 9 mothers there with their children, all sitting in a small room with many more at the door. These mothers all said they had taught their children at home but none had read a story to them. Ann had a child come sit on her lap and read the little book to her with expression, pointing to the words and pictures and enjoying the experience together. She then passed out books to all the mothers and they put a child on their lap and read to them just like Ann had done. They were all totally engrossed in the experience. Just imagine watching this for the first time! I will never forget it!”

[Bogor-CB Cileungsi] Through a special opening ceremony the library and tutor center in Cileungsi West Java was officially opened on April 28, 2007. Located in the Griya Cipeucang Indah housing development this library and tutoring center is a Level B library. The opening ceremony was attended by several locally elected oficials (RW Secretary & RT).

CB Cileungis seeks to develop the community through its lending library and non-formal educational programs. Through this activities CB hopes to expand the access this community has to inexpensive educational resources and opportunities. This message was shared by Arison the CD National Director during the official opening.

The community was encouraged to work together to develop this educational resources and opportunities through the CB library. Input and participation of the comunity is very important for the success of this libary.

Mr. Gatot (sekteratris RW) said that "the community needs CintaBaca, primarily to help children living in the Cipeucang Indah housing development. He explained that this housing development has a high concentration of children and youth because most of the residents here are young families. Furthermore , Cinta Baca can also helpfight illiteracy in the areas surrounding the development. Mr. Gatot stressed that this library is not here to promote any political or religious agenda, but rather to serve the community. He mentioned the importance of working together with the Cipeucang county. The head of this county was unable to attend, but Mr. Gatot assured everyone that he completely supports the activities of this library and that the community really needs these services which up until now no organization was providing.

After the cutting of the ribbon by the CintaBaca Director and the RW Secretary & RT, the community was encourage to enjoy the library and register as members. More than 50 people registered as members for registration was free for all on opening day. Nurwanto, the branch Fasilitator, invited the members of the community in and wished that they would feel free to take full advantae of all the available facilities.

As a Level-B library, this library and tutoring center comes with 800 books and will ofer several non-formal educational programs like one-on-one tutoring and story telling. The communty hopes that the childrens interest and excitement for learning will be greatly helped with this access to more books and tutoring

On May 2, 2007, to celebrate the National Education Day and the successful opening of this new branch, the Ciluengsi library will hold a drawing contest for elementary and middle school students. This contest will be done together with the local schools and with other locally elected officials.

On February 5, 2007 the new Cinta Baca office & library was officially open to the public. After months of renovations, the residential property was converted into a literacy and education center. With these new facilities, Cinta Baca is now able to develop expanded educational programs to serve the needs of poor urban and rural communities as well as deepen its existing relationship with the two universities in the area.

Many visitors began arriving after the library opened at 10 am. Among the adults were kindergarten teachers, university lecturers, students, house-wives, and district government officials. Children and adults began to sign up as library members. Arison, the director of Cinta Baca, along with members of the Board of Directors welcomed visitors as they arrived and gave them guided tours of the library. They showed the guests the different language sections of the 15,000 book main library (English, Indonesian, Japanese and Dutch), the 5,000 book children’s library, and internet café.

The children’s library is particularly inviting with its bright colors, educational games, and room for children’s events. The books stimulate the curiosity of their young minds to explore a new world that has been previously inaccessible to many of them. A group of kindergarten teachers came to the opening. They were in awe with the children’s library. The teachers commented, “We are so glad to have this library in the area. The selection of books is great. Our students finally have a place to come to for learning.”

The impact of this new center will be felt as the staff develops the cognitive and moral educational programs. The educational lessons are provided for people of all ages. Without a marked improvement in education, Indonesians will continue to struggle in a global world. Access to information and the ability for them to process it will also help people become responsible global citizens.