Encourage writing among children: Indonesian author

Writing and reading is being human. Hence, even the juvenile, should be encouraged to explore their thoughts by way of their written expressions, according to an Indonesian author.

- Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

Doing so, Reda Gaudiamo, further said, is an expression of respect to children, who “have their voice. They have the right to “be heard.”

The 1962-born’s first attempt in quibbling words, was 57 years back.

Her story was about a little girl who planted a seed she had found, that bloomed into a butterfly.

Among the 72 “Indonesian Writers in Focus” grantees of Jakarta’s National Talent Management for Arts and Culture, Gaudiamo was among the 250 authors from 66 countries invited at the just-concluded 44th “Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF).”

She sat side-by-side with Nadine Kaadan from France and Ondjaki from Angola at the “Turning Pages, Changing Young Readers’ Lives” panel.

Over the weekend, Gulf Today asked for her views on the capability of children to self-expression as in between, she spoke before 400 students of the Al Diyafah High School and 300 students of the GEMS Wellington International School in Dubai.

“The children are so wonderful. I prompted them to write with the question ‘What if wings grew on your shoulders? What would you do with these wings?’ They came up with stories within two minutes.”