MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, JAKARTA – The Asia Foundation granted 3,328 medical books to ‘Aisyiyah. The handover took place at the Aisyiyah Office of Menteng, Jakarta. It was carried out by the Country Representative of the Asia Foundation Hana Satriyo and received by Chairwoman of Aisyiyah Masyitoh Chusnan, Treasurer of Aisyiyah Rita Pranawati, and representatives of Aisyiyah councils.
Masyitoh Chusnan said the medical book grant was a continuation of the discussion between The Asia Foundation and the President of ‘Aisyiyah 2015-2022, Siti Noordjannah Djohantini. “After dealing with a number of permits, those books arrived today. Since ‘Aisyiyah has many universities with medical programs, the books may enrich knowledge members of ‘Aisyiyah Universities,” said Masyitoh.
Besides, Hana Satriyo said the book grant was one of the Book for Asia programs by The Asia Foundation. The books are donations from many publishers cooperating with The Asia Foundation such as Elsevier Publishing.
‘Aisyiyah has collaborated with The Asia Foundation since the 1960s. Rita said the book grant was the beginning of further collaboration between The Asia Foundation and ‘Aisyiyah to strengthen the literacy movement.
“This collaboration will continue, insya Allah, because The Asia Foundation is reinforcing the literacy movement and has 9,000 books in various languages as English, Indonesian, Sundanese, Batak, and Javanese. The Aisyiyah Council for Primary and Secondary Education will collaborate with the Asia Foundation to improve literacy of public and students,” said Rita.
According to Rita, the younger generation’s literacy should be boosted so that they have critical thinking and an understanding of good facts. Good literacy enables children to get used to thinking logically so that they become wiser in receiving information in the digital era.