Michelle K.

When Michelle saw that many young people around her did not see reading as something enjoyable and inspiring, she created Book Buddies, a student-led community to boost literacy among young people. Her initiative has online and offline components. The online part was to promote reading by creating fun and interesting social media posts and campaigns that are relatable to young people and promote reading. The offline part was to promote literacy among children and young people who live in orphanages as well as engaging young people in writing workshops and activities that promote literacy.

Books Buddies have donated more than 100 books and two million rupiah to children in orphanages. As a community, Book Buddies has grown to include 80 people that share the love of literature and the mission to make books accessible for everyone. They have participated in many online and offline activities, including a digital campaign called “Unleash Your Literacy Superpower” which involved 200 people. Book Buddies’ workshop was attended by 30 people, and its social media account has more than 1,000 followers.