Butet Manurung

Indonesian educator who revolutionized literacy programs for isolated indigenous tribes in Sumatra

Butet Manurung, founder of Sokola Rimba (Jungle School), pioneered contextual education for Indonesia's Orang Rimba people. Defying conventional teaching methods, she lived with nomadic tribes in the Bukit Duabelas rainforest for over two decades, developing a culture-specific curriculum that blends practical survival skills with literacy.

Her groundbreaking approach included:

• Using tree bark as writing surfaces
• Creating number systems based on forest resources
• Teaching legal literacy to combat land grabbing

This UNESCO-recognized methodology has empowered tribal communities to:

1. Negotiate directly with palm oil companies
2. Document ancestral land claims
3. Preserve oral traditions through writing