The literacy garden is a garden that Ibu Par transformed into a learning space that is no less fun than the general classroom. The literacy garden came to be after Ibu Par’s classroom and school were destroyed by an earthquake that struck North Lombok in 2018.
“After the 2018 earthquake, our schools and classrooms were destroyed, so we had to study outside. But, thank God, there was INOVASI. INOVASI provided assistance to us through the regional facilitators (fasilitator daerah, or Fasda), and from there, we, the teachers, became more enthusiastic about teaching. We came to learn how to overcome our limitations after the earthquake. We started with learning how to reduce children’s trauma and have moved on to creating simple learning media using whatever means around us,” said Ibu Par.
As a result, the literacy garden was created to serve as a substitute for a classroom.
“I started the literacy garden some time ago, after the earthquake that hit Lombok. At that time, we received assistance from Suarto, a Fasda from INOVASI. We didn’t have a classroom where we could study at that time. Then Suarto suggested to use the garden as a place for learning or as a substitute classroom. That’s when the literacy garden was created,” said Ibu Par.
Ibu Par continues to conduct classes in the literacy garden as she waits for a temporary classroom to be built.
The literacy garden is a simple learning space; the students are learning how to use simple learning media that can be found in and around the literacy garden.
“In the literacy garden, the students learn to use makeshift tools; learning media is made from improvised materials, such as cardboard, leaves, and used plywood from home,” Ibu Par explained.
One of the challenges that Ibu Par faces is the rainy season. During the rainy season, Ibu Par has to save the learning media being used in the literacy garden because the media could easily be damaged by water.
Despite many limitations in teaching, Ibu Par never loses her enthusiasm to teach her students. In fact, Ibu Par continues to teach in spite of those limitations while she waits for the construction of a permanent school that will be made of bamboo. The permanent school is part of INOVASI’s support for schools in North Lombok that were affected by the earthquake. There are 14 bamboo schools that are being built by INOVASI in this district.
