Current Role | Founder & CEO, Rainbow Reading Gardens |
Previous Position | Communications Executive, WWF & Danone Aqua |
Key Recognition | CNN Hero of the Year Finalist | Forbes Indonesia Inspiring Women | UN Global Compact SDG Pioneer Nominee |
Background and Early Foundations
Nila Tanzil began her career in the corporate world, working with multinational brands and environmental NGOs. But a 2009 trip to Flores changed everything. Shocked to find children attending school with no access to books, she returned home with one mission: to make reading accessible to Indonesia’s most remote islands.
That mission became Taman Bacaan Pelangi (Rainbow Reading Gardens) — a non-profit that has since opened more than 100 libraries across Eastern Indonesia, transforming the literacy landscape for thousands of children.
Today, the Nila Tanzil changemaker journey stands for reading, empowerment, and inclusion — page by page.
Career Milestones and Impact
Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
2009 | Founded Rainbow Reading Gardens in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara |
2015 | Expanded library program to 18 islands across Eastern Indonesia |
2018 | Published memoir Lembar-Lembar Pelangi and launched international partnerships |
2023 | Surpassed 100 libraries serving over 36,000 children |
- Libraries Built: 100+ across 21 islands
- Children Impacted: 36,000+ (as of 2025)
- Volunteers Trained: Over 1,000 local educators and literacy advocates
- Focus: Reading access, literacy curriculum, girl empowerment through education
Leadership Style and Influence
Nila leads with storytelling, community trust, and long-haul dedication:
- Empowers local teachers and parents to sustain library programs
- Champions cultural relevance by including local-language children’s books
- Leverages partnerships with UNICEF, Room to Read, and corporate CSR to scale impact
Her libraries don’t just offer books — they offer possibility.
Legacy and Future Focus
Nila’s legacy lies in creating Indonesia’s first structured rural library network, specifically targeting underserved children outside Java.
Her goals in the next phase include:
- Launching mobile library boats for even harder-to-reach islands
- Developing digital reading tools for children without smartphones
- Creating a training institute to certify rural librarians and reading coaches
She’s helping build a generation that reads to dream — and dreams to build.
