Channeling Literacy Along the Bendo River
Suroto has long provided free reading classes to enrich the knowledge of the people living along the Bendo River.
Suroto has long provided free reading classes to enrich the knowledge of the people living along the Bendo River. On the riverbank, he also offers training in skills to help them face challenges, innovate and contribute to society.
It is morning on a footpath along the Bendo River in Tebel village of Gedangan district, Sidoarjo, East Java. White rays from the sun pass through the lush foliage of the trees that grow on the well-groomed banks of the clean and smooth-flowing river. Dozens of housewives of all ages sit there making macramé.
It is hard to imagine that this footpath is now used as a community activity center, let alone sitting there to converse or learning how to make macramé. Before, everyone was reluctant to even pass through the area, which was full of piles of smelly garbage that was nearly choking the river.
It was Suroto, 56, who urged the village people to stop throwing their garbage into the river that ran in front of their houses. He also urged them to keep the area clean and plant flowers on the riverbank.
The Bendo River was rejuvenated. The people felt comfortable lounging on the riverbanks, some resting after the day’s work, others socializing with their neighbors or taking part in a group activity.
On Saturday (27/10/2019), several women sat on the riverbank, some cross-legged while others remained standing. They were from the Sruni village chapter of the Family Welfare Movement (PKK) in Sidoarjo.
Under Suroto’s guidance, the women were making macramé, knotting lengths of rope into decorative items. Today, they were making a charming flowerpot hanger for beautifying their homes.
Sruni PKK chairwoman Fissilmi, 37, said that Suroto was providing the macramé training for free. The participants only reimbursed the cost of the materials, or they could bring their own. They were also responsible for bringing their own snacks and drinks.
Environmental conservation
The macramé training is only one of the many social activities Suroto offered. Many people frequently visit his house, which faces the Bendo River, eager to learn how to make macramé or aloe vera juice, as well as to discuss literacy.
His visitors come from not just Sidoarjo, but also several cities in East Java, and some even come from
outside Java. For those who cannot make the trip, Suroto goes to them to provide training workshops or to share his experiences in literacy and environmental conservation.
"The macramé training is part of an effort to create new jobs in the creative industry," said Suroto, who is married to Siti Mutrikah, 53, and is father to Arif Abdillah.
The finished macramé items are later shipped to Bali for sale. The products range from key chains to flowerpot hangers and curtains, and are made primarily by housewives who work from home while taking care of their families.
Encouraging the people to grow aloe vera provides not only the raw materials, but also additional incomes, while making the environment greener at the same time," said Suroto, the head of administration in Tebel village and a decorative plant trader.
Suroto also produces natural aloe vera juice, which is also made by local residents. The aloe vera comes from their home gardens.
"Encouraging the people to grow aloe vera provides not only the raw materials, but also additional incomes, while making the environment greener at the same time," said Suroto, the head of administration in Tebel village and a decorative plant trader. Over time, his training workshops became full.
But Suroto also holds public discussions to develop literacy.
His small side-yard was transformed into a public library and an activities center, while his front path, which runs along the Bendo River, became a hub for community gatherings. he also manages a small library, the Bait Kata Library, to provide wider access to books.
The community’s literary spirit spread from the riverbank library, flowing through narrow streets to the nearby cemetery, through houses of worship and to the verandas of village homes. Suroto knew that only literacy would help empower the community through education.
Though he is middle-aged, Suroso\'s enthusiasm for teaching the people and improving their welfare is undiminished. Most recently, he initiated the Riverbank Tourism program, an affordable tourist program that offers training in macramé and environmentalism.
Visitors are served organic aloe vera juice and are led on a village tour, which is adorned with several beautiful murals. They also learn about plants, can read books in the mini library and visit several pretty photo spots. The highlight of the program is dining on home-cooked Sidoarjo dishes.
"All profits from the [program] are used to develop the Bendo River Literacy Kampung so it is make it more comfortable, beautiful and environmentally friendly," said Suroto.
What is literacy?
Although he is a literacy activist and the founder of a literacy program, Suroto claims that in the beginning, he did not know what literacy meant. A Sidoarjo resident since 1982, he says he only does what he thinks would benefit his surroundings. He only started learning about the meaning of “literacy” after his home became known as a place to gain knowledge.
Suroto did not continue his education after graduating junior high. He is self-employed, trading in various goods and running a decorative plant nursery. He has been the Tebel village head of administration since 1994.
Although he is a government official, Suroto does not want to request village funds or funding from other government agencies. His reason is simple: He wants to avoid becoming trapped in the bureaucracy of government programs, and instead wants to prioritize community empowerment.
Most government programs do not run optimally because they mostly focus on budget management.
"Most government programs do not run optimally because they mostly focus on budget management. I have chosen to run self-funded activities so the program is sustainable," said Suroto, who has his family’s full support.
The Riverbank Tourism program is part of Suroto\'s strategy to finance the literacy program. He sets affordable fees to avoid burdening the village residents. Another is to use a portion of the profits made from selling the handcraft products of the Lorong Lestari Self-Empowerment Community Group to grow the group’s business.
In one mural he painted, Suroto included a quote from Pramoedya Ananta Toer: "Be grateful to all that gives life." The best way to fulfill this is to pass on things that benefit the progress of civilization.
Suroto
Born: Surabaya, 24 April 1963
Wife: Siti Mudrikah, 53
Child: Arif Abdillah, 29
Occupation: Head of administration, Tebel village
Education:
- SMP 14 Surabaya junior high school (Class of 1981)
- SDN 78 Ngesong Surabaya elementary school (Class of 1978)