Bookwallah Organization donated storybooks, held an open library bazaar and special storytelling sessions for the children were victims of the recent Mt. Merapi eruptions in Yogyarkata, Indonesia.  The donations of storybooks and storytelling sessions occurred during the biggest art performance festival held in Yogyakarta Concert Hall Nov 18, 2010. The event, named "Art for Children" was attended by 900 people and 138 children of refugees. About one fifth of the children are now orphans as a result of the disaster.  The president of the Arts committee mentioned Bookwallah Organization as one of the seven main sponsors of this event. 

While Bookwallah Organization is not an emergency relief organization, we made a decision to help because of our developing relationships within the region.  The disaster also affected one of our approved orphanages which had to evacuate during this natural disaster.  

Under the leadership of Aria Widyanto, Director of Bookwallah Indonesia, the organization purchased local  language & English storybooks and recruited a group of volunteers - Broto Wijayanto, Dina Triastuti, Wahyu Kustiningsih, Andika Ananda, Mr. Efendi, and Jati Nugroho- who  shared the gift of imagination to the orphans during this critical time.

Dr. Norman:  Volunteer in Indonesia

Shilpa: Bookwallah Volunteer in India

Sujaya: Bookwallah Volunteer in India

Bookwallah Organization has evolved to provide a more holistic approach to our programs.  While providing storybooks is a great start, this action itself does not guarantee the children are given access to the books or are reading the books. Contracts are now signed to ensure both parties (orphanage and organization) act in good faith.  Matching programs exist to encourage the orphanage to continue to build the library.  We also conduct storytelling/reading sessions with the help of local community and tutors. We realized during our assessment and pre-approval of over 20 orphanages this past year that these actions are critical for several reasons:

• Interaction and engagement with the orphanage helps us determine the impact of our programs. Evaluation is based on testimonials from Bookwallah volunteers, tutors, local NGOs, and the leaders of the orphanage.
• Children receive a level of personal interaction necessary for personal growth and development.
• Local community is invested in the success and growth of the nearby institution (orphanage). If there are schools within the orphanage, neighborhood children (while on school premise) are also given access to the storybooks and benefit from reading sessions.
• Individuals serve as role models.  Many children in orphanages have experienced hardships early in their lives, so people such as Dr. Norman, Ms. Shilpa, and Ms. Sujaya provide a tremendous source of inspiration.

There is no question that the children are experiencing the benefits of Bookwallah's programs.  Bookwallah volunteer, Sujaya's observations after one of the reading sessions at the orphanage:

"The children were excited with the whole idea of outsiders with a different activity of story reading (storytelling is not as commonly practiced in developing nations). It was surprising that though they were still learning phonetics and prefer speaking in Hindi, they were able to put the correct word to a visual, or understand meanings of words like 'selfish' and 'share'.  They were very fascinated with the colorful visuals and spent a lot of time going over the books and seeing the visuals."

Please email volunteer@bookwallah.org if you are interested in volunteering in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, or Jamaica. 

Our programs are fundamentally designed to bring hope, inspiration, imagination to the lives of the 143 Million orphans in the world.  Get to know some of the children Bookwallah Organization impacts.   

Rizki Indonesian.  Parents abandoned him.  He suffers from megacolon.  Ministry of Social Affairs took him to a shelter, he underwent surgery, and now resides in an orphanage. Parents whereabouts unknown.

Anurag Indian.  Mother got involved with a married man, gave birth to two children including a sister.  All died of AIDS except for Anurag.  He now resides in an orphanage is curently being checked for AIDS.

Siti                                                         Indonesian. Someone picked her from the street and placed her in the local hospital.  An official from the government found her in the hospital and placed her in an orphanage. Her parentage is currently unknown.

Holiday Season is here.  If you would like to donate in honor of family, friends, family, customers, colleagues, please do so!  Bookwallah Organization will email or mail a card to them with your message.  AND...have a chance to...

Win an Apple iPAD or Apple Gift Card (valued at $500)! 

Win an Apple iPad (16GB) or Apple Gift Card (winner's choice) valued at $500!   Bookwallah Organization is holding a raffle beginning December 1, 2010-December 31,2010.  Raffle "tickets" are $50. Only 100 are available for purchase. You can purchase your raffle ticket by donating online at DONATE.  We will receive a record of your online donation which will be used for the drawing. You can donate multiple times for multiple "tickets".  Ticket purchases must be completed by December 31, 2010.  Unless we sell 100 tickets prior to that date (at which time we will close the raffle entry), we will hold the raffle with all tickets on January 3, 2011.  We will need a minimum of 50 tickets sold to hold the raffle. The winner will be announced January 3, 2011 on Facebook "Bookwallah Organization" page and will be contacted by email or phone.  Tell your friends and family so one of you will have a strong chance of winning! 

bookwallah & cooperation treaty between U.S. & Indonesia

Presidents & Cooperation Treaty

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Ministry of Social Affairs

Bookwallah Organization is to be listed as one of the organizations participating in the recent Comprehensive Partnership (Cooperation Treaty) launched between United States and Indonesia.  Dwi Sari, who serves on our Board of Advisors has been working closely with Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Chicago to seamlessly provide Bookwallah programs within Indonesia.  As a result of Consulate relationship, the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly support the growth of Bookwallah's programs.  U.S. and Indonesia formally launched the U.S. - Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership during President's Obama's visit to Indonesia in November 2010.  This partnership emphasizes cooperation in several areas including Education and People to People partnership.  

Indonesia is home to 4.5 M orphans and 7000 orphanages. During our visit, we met many leaders/owners of the orphanages who expressed a strong need for Bookwallah's programs(library, reading rug, and reading sessions).  To date, we  approved seven orphanages in Indonesia (Yogyakarta, Bali, Banda Aceh, and Lhokseumawe) and piloted our first project in Yogyakarta (see photo to left) with storybooks donated by Laren Montessori School.   Bookwallah created a Reading Rug space with locally purchased bookshelves, rug, tables, chairs, and will supplement the existing library with local language storybooks.  We will also be hiring a tutor and starting the reading sessions in early January 2011. If you would like to see more photos of the incredible Indonesia experience, please visit "Bookwallah Organization" Facebook page. 

Shari Christofferson, Chapter Lead ...and Phoenix

Shari Christofferson is Bookwallah Organization's first Chapter Lead.  She resides in Chicago and is busy connecting the organization with members of the Chicago community.  Her responsibilities as a volunteer Chapter Lead includes fundraising, party planning, organizing bookdrives within the community, and recruiting volunteers.  As you can imagine, she needs help!

Shari is a business development consultant for the manufacturing sector.  Shari holds a B.S. from University of Arizona and M.S. from University of Southern California.  She enjoys a variety of sports including yoga, swimming, hiking and horseback riding in the mountains. Most Sunday afternoons she can be found in her father's workshop making furniture or building cabinets for her latest project- a kitchen rehab. Shari can be contacted at schristofferson@bookwallah.org.

Save the Date.  Tuesday, February 8: 5:30pm-7:30pm.  Bookwallah Organization fundraising/gathering at Bull and Bear.  431 N. Wells in downtown Chicago.  Come after work on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 5:30pm-7:30pm.  $25 donation at the door will get you 2 drink tickets and light appetizers... and a reason to party for a cause!  Promise- no speeches!

Aria Widyanto, Director of Bookwallah Indonesia and Mountain Climber on Himalayas Langton Peak, Nepal 2009

Bookwallah Mountain Climbing Team - 2011

Aria Widyanto, volunteer Director of Bookwallah Indonesia, is an enthusiastic mountain climber. Climbing Mt.Kilimanjaro in Africa is on his agenda and he is currently seeking individuals who want to be part of the first official Bookwallah Mountain Climbing team.  

Aria is also undertaking another adventure.  He recently left his position as Chief Planning Officer for a Japanese bank in Jakarta, Indonesia and has started his own company that produces renewable energy sources. 

If you or someone you know would be interested in designing this new program and Climbing for a Cause, please contact Seena Jacob at sjacob@bookwallah.org or Aria Widyanto at awidyanto@bookwallah.org. 

Recognize anyone?   35-40 people attended Bookwallah Organization's first "fundraising" event and made it a warm and successful one!  Special thanks to Terri Champelli of Schubas who donated the space and Edward Kramer for acting as photographer.  Visit "Bookwallah Organization" Facebook page for more photos.