Cookie preferences

HundrED uses cookies to enhance user experiences, to personalise content, and analyse our web traffic. By clicking "Accept all" you agree to the use of all cookies, including marketing cookies that may help us deliver personalised marketing content to users. By selecting "Accept necessary" only essential cookies, such as those needed for basic functionality and internal analytics, will be enabled.
For more details, please review our Cookie Policy.
Accept all
Accept necessary
search
clear

Karya Raya

Empowering Children's Creativity

Karya Raya is a platform that empowers Indonesian children to write and publish their own books, boosting creativity and literacy in one of the lowest PISA-ranked countries in youth reading comprehension. Independent and fun, we’ve published 2,000+ kids’ books, earned a MURI record, and partnered with public libraries and local government to help 1,000+ young voices shine.

Overview

Information on this page is provided by the innovator and has not been evaluated by HundrED.

Updated May 2025
Web presence

2022

Established

1

Countries
Students basic
Target group
We hope to see children empowered as creators, not just consumers, using writing to build confidence, critical thinking, and a love for reading. By making publishing fun and accessible, we aim to nurture a generation that learns through creating, shares their stories, and reads because they’re inspired by their peers.

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

I created this innovation because I know firsthand how powerful reading and writing can be. As a student, I struggled in the traditional academic system. What saved me was the joy of reading. It opened doors, sparked ideas, and eventually led me to a career as a writer, copywriter, and founder of my own company. I realized that writing isn’t just about putting words on paper; it’s a way of thinking, solving problems, and expressing ideas clearly.

In Indonesia, low reading comprehension is a national concern. It doesn’t just affect academic outcomes; it impacts critical thinking, job readiness, and our country’s ability to compete globally. I believe the ability to think, rooted in reading and writing, is key to solving many of our nation’s challenges.

We started as Bookabook, a publisher of personalized children’s books. But we soon saw something more: Gen Alpha doesn’t just want to read. They want to create. So we built the tools, platforms, and events that let them do just that. Through our innovation, children write and publish their own books, then read stories created by their peers. This peer-driven ecosystem builds a strong reading culture from the ground up.

Supported by public libraries and government institutions, our work aligns with the national mission to improve literacy. By helping children write and read more, we’re nurturing a generation of thinkers, creators, and lifelong learners.

What does your innovation look like in practice?

Our innovation combines literacy, creativity, and community. In practice, it looks like a vibrant ecosystem where children aged 5–14 become authors, illustrators, and creative entrepreneurs. Through our platforms and guided workshops, children write, illustrate, and publish their own books. Some even build small brands based on their stories. Their works are professionally printed and showcased in public exhibitions, libraries, and events we host throughout the year.

We also provide digital tools, printed templates, and story kits to help children craft original narratives. In schools, libraries, and online, our writing programs teach children to structure stories, build characters, and express emotions with clarity.

We also host the annual Karya Raya Exhibition, where hundreds of self-made books by children are displayed. Families, schools, and public libraries join in to read, vote, and celebrate the creators. We give awards not for being “the best,” but for creativity, collaboration, and persistence—values that build confidence and joy in learning.

At its heart, our innovation is about empowering children to see themselves as thinkers and makers. When they read stories written by their peers, they’re not only inspired to read more; they believe they can create too. That’s when change begins.

How has it been spreading?

Our innovation has spread organically through a strong sense of community and word of mouth. Teachers who’ve seen the impact in their classrooms have invited us to run creative writing sessions in their schools. Mothers, moved by the joy and pride their children experience, share our programs with other parents. The government has also played a key role; Jakarta Public Library now hosts our Young Authors Exhibition as one of its main annual events.

Social media has been essential. Our Instagram and YouTube channels feature interviews with young authors, sparking inspiration and engagement. We also created an online library (byme.bookabook.id) where children’s self-authored books are published and shared. Families and young authors proudly spread their work, with some books receiving over 2,000 reads. In just over a year, the site has reached nearly one million visits.

Instead of relying on ads, we focus on building tools that naturally encourage sharing. When children become authors, they want their stories read, and this peer-to-peer and parent-to-parent sharing has become our most powerful way to grow.

How have you modified or added to your innovation?

We started as a personalized children’s book publisher (Bookabook), but quickly noticed that Gen Alpha doesn’t just want to consume stories. They want to create them. This realization led us to expand our innovation significantly.

We added a structured creative writing program, available both in-person and online, to guide children from idea to finished book. We also developed a self-publishing platform (byme.bookabook.id) where children’s stories can be read and shared widely. To support kids who struggle with drawing, we introduced visual tools like Canva templates so they can still illustrate their books with ease.

We partnered with public libraries and secured government support to make our programs accessible to public school students, especially those with limited access to creative opportunities. Our exhibitions have grown from small displays into large public events, including a record-breaking showcase recognized by the national record museum (MURI).

Most importantly, we continue listening to our community—teachers, parents, and children—and adapt our programs based on their evolving needs and feedback.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

Trying Karya Raya is as easy as 1-2-3: create, publish, and share.

Visit karyaraya.bookabook.id or our Instagram to join the exhibition. Once you finish your book, upload your work, either by email or by post. In just 5 days, your book will be published and featured in our online library. The original copy will be kept for exhibition, but you’re welcome to reprint it for yourself.

You can also explore our YouTube and Instagram for inspiration and tips. Join our creative writing classes, now available in more than 5 schools, online throughout the year, and offline in malls. If drawing isn’t your strength, you can use Canva, our 2025 sponsor and official partner, to help design your book.

At the end of the process, your story will not only be seen—it could be celebrated. Selected works will be showcased at Perpustakaan Jakarta and may even receive an award during the annual Karya Raya celebration.

Implementation steps

Discover Karya Raya Through School or Social Media
Parents or children first hear about Karya Raya through school announcements, WhatsApp groups, Instagram, or local libraries. They learn it’s a creative program where kids aged 5–12 can make their own books or products and join a fun exhibition.
Register for a Workshop or Class
They follow a link or contact a number to register. They can enter by themselves or choose from online or offline classes, based on what works best for them. The registration is simple and inclusive — no previous skills or portfolios needed.
Attend Weekly Creative Sessions
If they choose to join, the child enters a series of classes (usually 5–8 weeks) where they write, draw, and create their own book or product. Each session is guided by friendly mentors who support every child in bringing their ideas to life in a fun, relaxed, and pressure-free environment.
Finalize and Submit the Child’s Creation
At the end of the course, each child completes their book or product. Parents are asked to help take a photo or scan the final version and submit it to the Karya Raya team for printing, approval, or booth assignment ahead of the big exhibition. All submissions will be showcased—there is no curation process, except for obvious exclusions (e.g. racism, nudity, violence). Our focus is on celebrating the creative process, not just the final result.
Join Karya Raya Exhibition
During the exhibition, children invite friends and family to see their work at Jakarta’s top public library. Each year, 100 books are chosen for the library’s permanent collection. On awarding day, children set up and decorate their booths, meet visitors, share or sell their creations, and feel proud seeing others enjoy their work.
Celebrate, Take Home Memories, and Ignite the Spark to Keep Creating
During the event, anything can happen: a child’s book might catch a publisher’s eye, a stage director may choose a story for a play, or children discover new perspectives by reading each other’s work. In the end, every child is recognized and celebrates with their peers. Some win fun awards, some make their first sales, and some simply don’t want it to end... but all leave feeling proud, inspired, and ready to create more.

Spread of the innovation

loading map...