A white car known as the "Smart Car," owned by PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA), travels from school to school every Monday to Friday. Outfitted with bookshelves, the car serves as a mobile oasis of knowledge and inspiration for students. "Books are here!" exclaimed the students of SDN 7 Lawang Kidul as they eagerly welcomed the arrival of the Smart Car during their break time in mid-February. Their small hands quickly reached for books they chose.
The diverse selection of books captivated their interest. Some were drawn to the beauty of fairy tales, others inspired by the life stories of national heroes, enjoyed poetry, or were fascinated by scientific knowledge about outer space. "I want a book of prophet stories," said Zahra, one of the students of SDN 7 Lawang Kidul.
Under the shade of trees in the schoolyard, a group of male students sat intently reading a picture book about Alexander the Great, the legendary king of Macedonia. Meanwhile, in another corner, female students were engrossed in a variety of fairy tales.
Sri Novianty, Principal of SDN 7 Lawang Kidul, shared that Bukit Asam Smart Car is a monthly event eagerly awaited by her students. "The students often ask me when the Smart Car will come to visit," she said.
Sri further explained that the presence of the Smart Car has a significant positive impact on the development of elementary school students. The books spark laughter, ignite imagination, and nurture dreams—offering children a window to explore the wider world.
“This mobile library has a rich collection of books, ranging from fiction to non-fiction. There are also many books with engaging illustrations. Elementary school students are drawn to colors and pictures, which help enhance their imagination and understanding," explained Sri.
To enhance literacy and understanding, students at SDN 7 Lawang Kidul are usually asked to retell the contents of the books they read following the Smart Car’s visit.
Sri expressed her appreciation for the Bukit Asam Smart Car initiative, noting that it greatly supports the school’s efforts to foster a love of reading among students. In today’s digital era, the habit of reading books is often overlooked.
“In fact, reading plays a crucial role in children's growth and development. It stimulates imagination, enriches vocabulary, and fosters critical thinking and empathy—qualities that digital content, with its instant and fast-paced nature, often lacks," concluded Sri.
She added that the mobile library has also increased the literacy of students at SDN 7 Lawang Kidul, contributing to the school's recent achievement.
“Alhamdulillah, recently SDN 7 Lawang Kidul won First Place in the Fast and Accurate Competition held by Bukit Asam. We included children with strong literacy skills. The participants in this competition came not only from schools in Lawang Kidul, but also from Muara Enim Regency, and some even from Lahat," she said.
For information, Bukit Asam Smart Car visited 144 schools across Lawang Kidul, Muara Enim, Tanjung Agung, West Merapi, and East Merapi Districts throughout 2024.
The implementation of the Mobile Library program aligns with the Asta Cita initiative promoted by the government, particularly Point 4, which focuses on developing human resources (HR) through improving education quality.
"With the commitment to making continuous contributions towards creating a quality future generation, Bukit Asam remains dedicated to running CSR programs that support the improvement of education for the nation's young generation," said Dedy Saptaria Rosa, VP of Sustainability at PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA).
In addition to the Mobile Library, PTBA also implements various programs aimed at improving community education. These include the Ayo Sekolah program, which provides scholarship packages to underprivileged students; the Scholarship for Students Around Bukit Asam (Bidiksiba), which supports high school graduates from disadvantaged families in areas around the company to pursue higher education; and the Gasing Method training, designed to enhance the numeracy skills of teachers and elementary school students.
