Gorontalo Literacy Project: A Sustainable Project to Increase Gorontalo Language Literacy that Meets Children’s Needs as Digital Natives

Abstract

Since local language literacy has been a huge problem faced by many countries around the globe, many scholars have profoundly dedicated their attention to the effort of finding the best solution to tackle this problem. One of the best ways is combining digital technology in the program of increasing literacy. Considering the importance of this matter, this paper explores “Gorontalo Literacy Project” an existing project in Gorontalo in which the aims do not only to increase the level of children’s literacy but also to increase children’s mastery level of Gorontalo language. This project encourages children to learn Gorontalo language by themselves through digital technology and to lead them in inquiring new horizon through appropriate strategies and tools that inevitably meet their needs as digital natives. The project has been conducted for three years by involving stake holders in Gorontalo. This is also beneficial to assist children to acquire Gorontalo language and government of Gorontalo to increase number of speakers of Gorontalo language in which its active speakers have decreased over these five decades.