A MODERN day city girl, Butet Manurung, who spent nine years living in the Sumatran jungle with the rainforest people and founded a NGO, won  a host of international awards, studied at ANU and married a Canberran in 2010,  to bring education and empowerment to marginalised communities, has also written a book, “The Jungle School”. 

She argues that across the world, Indigenous peoples are finding it increasingly difficult to protect their land and way of life are  excluded from decision-making and economic participation.

After living in the forest, she , co-founded SOKOLA, a non-profit organisation that  has since then given thousands of Indigenous youth in Indonesia access to education, preparing the generation to become bridges between their communities and outside interests.

“The JungleSchool” was first launched in WashingtonDC in April 2012 and now she’ll be launching her book with a series of talks in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.

In Canberra, SOKOLA, Indonesia Synergy and the Indonesian Embassy will present two events, free admission and open to the public.

A panel discussion on  Monday  February 18, 12.30pm – 2.30pm at the Acton Theatre, JG Crawford Building, 132 Lennox Crossing, ANU will feature a talk by Manurung followed by a discussion panel featuring  Nadjib Riphat Kesoema, the Indonesian Ambassador, Professor James J Fox, anthropologist and Paul Wojciechowski, Assistant Director General, AusAID. Free but bookings to  http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5392081862

The  book launch will take place on  Friday, 1 March 1, 5.30pm – 7.30pm

Bogong Theatre, Gorman House, Ainslie Avenue, Braddon. Indonesian dance, music and food will be provided. Free but please  RSVP by email to thejungleschool@gmail.com by Friday February 22.