VOA标准英语2012--US Charity Brings Books to Indonesian Children

 

US Charity Brings Books to Indonesian Children

Children devour¹ words and pictures in the newly opened library at a school in Padang, in Western Sumatra. Books are a luxury in Padang, and fifth-grade student Fiolisa Anggraini is pleased to see so many.

“What I like most from this new library is the books, good books ... They really can improve my knowledge,” Anggraini said.

The liberary is one of dozens The World is Just a Book Away has built in Indonesia since 2009 in Padang, Sidoarjo, and on the island of Bali. The latest opened last month.

The World is Just a Book Away's founder², James Owens, says children in Indonesia, as in other developing countries, have plenty of talent but few resources.

“They go to school, they learn and they are very smart. They do not have access to books, history and fables³ and stories and science, that can really spark their imagination and let them dream,” Owens said.

Each library costs between $5,000 and $10,000. At the University of Southern California, where Owens teaches, students held a five-kilometer charity run in March and raised $8,000 for the Padang library. Additional funds came from the organization's national branch. Psychology⁴ student Stephanie Wetzel belongs to the group of campus supporters.

“We take reading so for granted here, and I think that people really want the opportunity to be able to give reading literacy to other children who do not have that,” Wetzel said.

In Padang, teacher and headmaster Amril Lasmana says the library has made a difference in the lives of the children.

“The enthusiasm, interest, and motivation of our students in learning increased. The library building has been renewed. And now, it is in good and clean condition, so it motivates our students to study,” Lasmana said.

A mobile library in Padang and another in Sidoarjo extend the reach of the program to many other schools.

Fifth-grade student Lisa Andriyani Putri thinks the new library will help develop her mind and character.

“I am very happy with this new library. It makes me want to keep studying, so I can be a good person in future,” Putri said.

Back in California, The World is Just a Book Away Executive Director Robert Lucas helps connect donors⁵ with the projects the charity finances. He says funds raised in the United States go far in Indonesia.

“We can buy one book for $1 in Indonesia. So the one-to-one ratio there is a very attractive way to get people involved in supporting the organization and what we are trying to do,” Lucas said.

Some Indonesian libraries have been named after noted⁶ supporters, including the entertainer Cher, actor Liam Neeson, naturalist⁷ Jane Goodall and South African peace activist⁸ Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

The World is Just a Book Away has built 49 libraries for Indonesian children and 26 libraries for their parents. The organization will launch a program in Mexico this year. 

1 devour   

v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷

参考例句：

• Larger fish devour the smaller ones.大鱼吃小鱼。
• Beauty is but a flower which wrinkle will devour.美只不过是一朵，终会被皱纹所吞噬。

2 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

3 fables   

n.寓言( fable的名词复数 )；神话，传说

参考例句：

• Some of Aesop's Fables are satires. 《伊索寓言》中有一些是讽刺作品。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Little Mexican boys also breathe the American fables. 墨西哥族的小孩子对美国神话也都耳濡目染。 来自辞典例句

4 psychology   

n.心理，心理学，心理状态

参考例句：

• She has a background in child psychology.她受过儿童心理学的教育。
• He studied philosophy and psychology at Cambridge.他在剑桥大学学习哲学和心理学。

5 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 naturalist   

n.博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者)

参考例句：

• He was a printer by trade and naturalist by avocation.他从事印刷业，同时是个博物学爱好者。
• The naturalist told us many stories about birds.博物学家给我们讲述了许多有关鸟儿的故事。

8 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。