Situated in the Koroba-Kopiago district, serving 11 council wards, is the Fugwa Literacy Library. Access to education remains a major challenge in some parts of Papua New Guinea, and Hela Province is no exception. In remote villages, schools are often far away and difficult to reach, but that does not stop a child’s passionn and willingness to learn.

Seeing the importance of this, Oil Search Foundation (OSF) and Buk bilong Pikinini with partners including the Australian Government, Wesleyan Health Services and the Provincial Division of Education established this new learning centre.

Wendy Tom, a mother from Kerene Iba village said, “my daughter and I leave the village at 6am every morning to walk two hours to get to Fugwa for school. At times, I see that she is tired I tell her she can stay home, but she refuses. She says if she stays at home she will not know how to read and write. Seeing my child read brings joy to my heart.”

Peter Mark a local father from Teria village also said “My child has not only learning how to read and write but she has learnt good values and behaviours. At home she is teaching us how to practice good manners and is also teaching her other siblings how to write the letters of the alphabet.”