Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP) is currently working with five role models to publish 5 reader books to add to the existing 25 books in the mini professional “When I Grow Up” (WIGU) series.
Four children enrolled in BbP’s Early Childhood Education program have this week been photographed in action with their role models by Photographer Roan Paul. The themes this year include careers in construction, policing, restaurant hospitality and vehicle maintenance and repairs.
The series has been created together with BbP’s partners and professional role models. Children spend a day with their role model to learn what the career entails. The children are also provided a mini professional uniform, so they can look and feel identical to their role models.
5-year-olds Quinten Tonny Robie had the opportunity to learn what it takes to be a Mechanic with role model Greg Koyou at Ela Motors training program, Billy Garu Kuri went to the market to source produce and got cooking in the kitchen of The Locker Room Café & Bar with Chef Julz Henao (who is also Ambassador for Trukai), Gracelyn Patrick went to see a construction site with Ruth Dee Guma, QA & Control Engineer for Hebou Constructions and Sandrian Paul took the Water Police boat for a spin in the Port Moresby habour with Police Chief Inspector, Sylvia Reu, to learn all about policing. Priscilla Kamene will learn what it takes to produce concrete water pipes for civil engineering projects with Peter Auru, Precast Manager at Monier Ltd. Buk bilong Pikinini is very grateful for the amazing welcome the children have received by their role models and teams, making it a memorable and fantastic life-changing experience.
BbP has worked with role models from Brian Bell, CPL, Nasfund, Steamships, Niunet, St John Ambulance, Hastings Deering, BSP Financial Group Limited, PNGAir, Pacific Palms Properties, NAQIA, RSPCA, 9 Mile Farm / Ilimo Dairy Farm, TotalEnergies, Dentons, Theodist, Airways Hotel, ExxonMobil PNG, Ase Boas / Gurias, Pacific Towing and Port Moreby Nature Park to publish 25 reader books already.
The WIGU series, offers children a glimpse into the careers they can aspire to pursue but also helps students understand different themes, subjects and concepts which are always described with ample visual clues and interactive activities designed to aid in the learning process and comprehension. These books, favoured by teachers and students alike, portray careers that are both essential and accessible within Papua New Guinea.
For many children, these books provide a valuable opportunity to learn about professions that they might not otherwise encounter. Beyond being an excellent reading tool, the WIGU series also incorporates lessons in financial literacy, PNG culture, history, science, design, health awareness, environmental science and agriculture, animal welfare and wildlife conservation, which all contribute to enriching students' overall knowledge.
The financial investment in creating, producing, editing and printing the WIGU series, is in the hundreds of thousands of Kina, most of which has been sponsored by the Sir Brian Bell Foundation over the past 4 years. The aim of the readers is to inspire the children to value education and think about what they want to be in the future.
The WIGU series of readers has also received editing and design support from Wild Dog Books (Australia). Photography is done by Roan Paul Photography and Richard Bridger of Buk bilong Pikinini. Production and scripts by BbP and all written and compiled by BbP Founder Anne-Sophie Hermann.
The readers are available for purchase from Theodist , City Pharmacy Limited, SVS Mart or directly from Buk bilong Pikinini’s office and webshop: https://bukbilongpikinini.charity/
