Inspiring the next generation of changemakers: Introducing Room to Read and Ashoka’s new children's book series

We are excited to announce the publication of a new children's book series that will support young readers to become agents of change. Developed in collaboration with Ashoka, an organization that identifies and supports the world's leading social entrepreneurs and mobilizes a global community to build an "everyone a changemaker world," this innovative series aims to inspire children to use creative problem-solving and take action to create positive change in their communities.

The book series, titled "Becoming a Changemaker," features stories of ordinary people in Indonesia who have made a difference in the world by identifying a problem and working to solve it. Each book showcases a different social issue, from environmental protection to gender equality, and is written in a way that is accessible and engaging for children aged 6 to 10.

One book from the collection, “The Big Dreamer,” tells the story of environmental conservationist Hidayat. As a child, he saw villagers cut down a forest of mangrove trees, which protected the coastline of his village. This led to damaging floods and a loss of biodiversity, which meant the village had less access to fresh fish. As Hidayat grew older, he knew something needed to change. With some persuading, he convinced a group of his neighbors to help him re-plant the mangrove forest. Within five years, the coastline was protected from floods and the ecosystem of sea life was restored. This experience affirmed Hidayat's commitment to environmental protection.

Through these stories, children will learn about the power of empathy, creativity and perseverance in becoming lifelong changemakers. They will see how even small actions can create waves of change and will be encouraged to think about what they can do to make a difference in their own lives, in their communities and in the world. 

Room to Read is proud to partner with Ashoka on this project, as they bring a wealth of experience and expertise in supporting social innovation and entrepreneurship through their network of changemakers. Room to Read’s children’s book publishing experts collaborated with local book publishers to support authors and illustrators in Indonesia to develop these 12 titles. Together, we hope to inspire a new generation of changemakers who are committed to making the world a better place. 

Room to Read and Ashoka will distribute hard copies of the “Becoming a Changemaker” book series to schools and communities across Indonesia through our programs and the initiatives of local education partners. The books are also now available on Room to Read’s free online learning platform, Literacy Cloud, in English and Bahasa Indonesia. We hope parents, teachers and caregivers can share these stories with the children in their lives and spark conversations about how they too can be agents of change. 

We believe that every child has the potential to make a difference in the world, and we are committed to providing them with the tools and inspiration they need to do so. Join us on this journey to inspire a new generation of changemakers!

Read the “Becoming a Changemaker” book series on Literacy Cloud