Communication Behaviour: A Struggle Against Illiteracy in Eastern Indonesia

The illiteracy phenomenon is a trial that requires effort in order to defeat it. The children of Kadi Wone village, East Wewewa District, Southwest Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia attempt to defeat this phenomenon by engaging in their education and studying. However as this is deemed insufficient, children may choose to join a reading centre (Taman Bacaan Masyarakat) called Dyatame. The social circle of Dyatame reading centre provides an opportunity to enhance interest in reading and learning. The purpose of this study was to reveal the meaning of reading in terms of it being a resource to fight illiteracy and further, to study the communication behaviour created through interactions in the social circle of Dyatame reading centre. The results of this study reveal that children can be empowered with learning spirit in the fight against illiteracy. This motivation can also build their capacity through an understanding of the meaning of reading, as a source of insight and an information tool. This study also envisages that this learning process can shape communication behaviour, verbally and non-verbally in both positive and negative ways