Children’s Story About Diversity & Youth Leadership

young girl from Indonesia standing in rice fields smiling children learning about cultural diversity in Indonesia traditional Pasola festival in Sumba with horses and community girl engaging with diverse community groups in Indonesia youth leading community initiatives for education and environment

READ

PARENT-TEACHER GUIDE

The Dream Weaver

Average Rating: 0.0

Country: Indonesia

Author: Imelda Naomi

Illustrator: Feelish

Ages: 8-10

Publisher: Room to Read

Story Source: Literacy cloud

About The Story

This is a true story of Itrin D.M, from the Sabu tribe on Indonesia's Sumba Island. Growing up in a village in East Sumba, Itrin grew up amongst rice fields, beaches, and playing the traditional Pasola game. in 2019, she participated in a Student Exchange Program wherein she lived with a Muslim family in Jakarta. This experience deepened her understanding of tolerance and diversity. Inspired, she returned to Sumba and co-founded the Pitagoras Community (Connecting Communities Across Race), fostering unity among people of different ethnicities, faiths, and backgrounds. Through initiatives like fundraising for early education and promoting environmental awareness she worked towards instilling pluralistic values and appreciation for diversity in children. She won the award, Ashoka Youth Changemaker, a testament to the power of youth to drive social change.

Themes

Community

Culture & Tradition

Social & Emotional Learning

Sub Themes

traditional games

Exchange Programs

Changemaker

Parent-Teacher Guide

Learning Outcome

Understand that kindness and caring are shared values across cultures and religions.
Recognize that people from different backgrounds can live, learn, and work together peacefully.
Develop empathy toward others who may look, speak, or believe differently.
Identify ways young people can create positive change in their own communities.
Reflect on the idea that humanity is connected by shared values, not divided by differences.

Activities

1. Kindness Map : Students draw a map of their community and mark places where kindness can be practiced (school, home, playground).
2. Common Values Circle : List values like kindness, respect, and helping others. Discuss how these are shared by people everywhere.

Story Discussion Guide

Before reading

What does the word kindness mean to you?
Have you ever met someone who was different from you? How did you feel?
Why do you think learning about other people’s lives is important?

During reading

How did living with a different family change Itrin’s perspective?
What values did Itrin discover that were shared across different faiths?
Why do you think she wanted to start the Pitagoras community?

After reading

What does this story teach us about pluralism?
How can kindness help bring people together?
What is one small action you could take to make your community more caring?

Applicable Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 4 – Quality Education

This story shows that learning goes beyond classrooms, as real-life cultural exchange builds empathy, understanding, and responsible global citizenship.

SDG 10 — Reduced Inequalities

By bringing children from different faiths and backgrounds together, the story highlights inclusion, dignity, and respect as keys to reducing social inequalities.

SDG 16 — Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions

The story emphasizes dialogue, cooperation, and everyday acts of kindness as foundations for peaceful communities and mutual trust.

Comments

There are no comments