About Read to Lead
Back in our university days, we spent a lot of time in the library—not just to find information, but to have fun, get inspired, and meet students from other departments. Reading books felt more accessible, more affordable, and honestly, way more enjoyable when shared with friends.
But apparently, not all university students in Indonesia get to experience the same thing—especially those at underprivileged institutions. Their libraries might function in a technical sense, but as spaces that should inspire a love for reading and empower students, lecturers, and staff through literacy, they’re falling short.
That’s why Xera and I decided to focus on university libraries—an area that’s often left out of the government’s main literacy agenda. Most national programs focus on children up to high school, but if we’re talking about sustainability, shouldn’t we keep the spark of reading alive during the university years too? I’m really grateful that SEALNet and my core team believe in this vision and are walking this journey with us.
Love, Ratri
How We did it
With the support of Xera and Radinka from our Media & Publication team at SEALNet PI25, readingESEA was established as an independent community to promote the love of reading at UPN “Veteran” Jawa Timur for the following year. We focused on authors from East and Southeast Asia—not only because their books were more accessible, but also in the hope of fostering collaboration with universities across the region.
readingESEA was first proposed at the SEALNet Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) 2024, which brought me to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, for a week of collaboration and idea-building. There, the concept was developed further, eventually merging with a project by Nisrina (Program Team of SEALNet PI25) into a new initiative called Reading for Indonesia, which we pitched at the end of the summit. Due to personal reasons, Nisrina couldn’t continue leading a project, so we restructured and submitted Read to Lead as SEALNet’s Summer Project 2025—carrying the same spirit and purpose, but with a broader scope and a new focus location.
We joined the retreat in Cebu, Philippines, alongside the three other selected SEALNet Summer Projects. Guided by professional mentors from Indonesia, Singapore, and Cambodia, we deepened our plans and strengthened our vision—hoping this project will inspire others to start similar initiatives and create meaningful impact in their own communities.
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