Bibliotherapy Program
Bibliotherapy is an approach in using literary materials as therapeutics tools for readers to overcome their problems or in facing their problems constructively. The programme was launch on 26 May 2008 in Pertapis Centre for Women and Girls in Surin Avenue.
The programme ran for 12 sessions from May to September 2008. Basically the participants underwent 3 levels of education. In the first stage the participants were taught on how to appreciate short stories through the language and style of writing. They were also taught on how to understand the different components in short stories such as character theme, plot, issues, moral and values. Finally, they were taught on how to read a creative work critically. In the second stage, they were taught on how to narrate their experience with that of the stories they have read and put them into perspectives. After which they were taught on how to be creative in thinking and writing. In the third stage, they were guided on how to write short stories so that it was good enough for publication and for entry into creative writing competitions.
At the end of the programme, 60 short stories were produced. Out of that 40 were shortlisted for competition and finally 24 were shortlisted for publication. Out of this, 13 short stories were successfully selected for publication.
Publication
The works were published in an anthology entitled: “Diari Hitam” (Sketsa Remaja Berisiko) or “Black Diary – Sketches of Youth-at-risk). The publication is designed to be that of a diary. It is informal and every story comes with illustration. The book is 120 pages thick. The selected short stories for publication are:
1. Grandpa
2. It is not my intention
3. Only a note
4. The Burden of Untruth
5. Night Butterfly
6. Moments of challenges
7. Apart at last
8. My brother
9. Tears of regret
10. Sister Elly
11. Victim of desire
12. Black dot
13. Longing for love
Synopsis of BLACK DIARY
The sketches in the anthology entitled ‘Diari Hitam’ (Black Diary) are realistic manifestation of the painful experiences that portrayed the reflections of the participants. The sketches were laid down so subtly reflecting their experiences such that no other writers will be able to narrate them in the same natural and original sense. The controversial and sensitivity reflected through the various plot in the sketches showed their willingness and openness of the participants in surfacing the dark issues that have been haunting their mind. This diary is records juvenile delinquencies in a creative way and succinctly brings to surface the root cause of such delinquencies.
