Buk bilong Pikinini celebrates 25 readers in the “When I Grow Up I want to be a …” mini professional reader series

Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP) and the Sir Brian Bell Foundation celebrates the milestone of 25 readers in the mini professional ‘When I Grow Up” (WIGU) reader series during Book Week. Six new titles were added during National Book Week (19-23rd August 2024) with a number of exciting events for children enrolled in BbP’s Early Childhood Education program.

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 international theme for Book Week 2024 is ‘Reading is Magic’, which it truly is - as reading from a young age assists you with all other subjects at school and enables you to understand the world around you. However, when learning to read it is important for children be able to relate to the books.

BbP’s Book Week is slightly different to other schools’ celebrations as the focus is not on Disney or other character books but on the celebration of professions that children can aspire to in Papua New Guinea as depicted in the ‘When I Grow Up’ series.

Throughout BbP’s Book Week, 5-year-old children come dressed up as their favorite professional and despite their very young age, already have firm opinions about what they want to be when they grow up. When asked they answer: Pilot, Lawyer, Doctor, Architect, Pastry Chef ... professions they have gotten to know well through reading the books in the classroom, through play-based learning activities, field trips and excursions to get further hands-on experience.

The series has been created together with BbP’s partners, which have allowed BbP’s students to follow a professional role model for a day and thereby learn what the role entails. The children are provided a mini professional uniform by the company or organization, so they can look and feel identical to their role models.

Anne-Sophie Hermann, BbP Vice-Chair and Founder said: “We are grateful to the Sir Brian Bell Foundation and CEO Bronwyn Wright for believing in the importance of this series and for sponsoring our printing and shipping costs. A great thank you to all our partners for your support to create the WIGU series for the children of PNG.’

BbP has worked with 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, Pactow and Port Moreby Nature Park who have all provided role models, uniforms, study trips, machinery, materials, field trips and time to allow for production.

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.

In celebrating the publishing of the 25 professions featured during Book Week 2024, the children can aspire to be: a farmer, doctor, botanist, archaeologist, pharmacist, accountant, hotelier, paramedic, graphic designer, nurse, pastry chef, engineer, teacher, ICT officer, rugby player, heavy equipment officer, banker, veterinarian, store manager, pilot, architect, tugboat captain, warehouse manager and zoo keeper with new roles coming in 2025.

Leanne Resson, BbP Executive Officer said: “It is vital for young children to have role models to aspire to so they can understand the importance of education and see themselves in professional roles they may otherwise not have thought possible. BbP publishes books with and for PNG’s children.”

The WIGU series of readers is sponsored by the Sir Brian Bell Foundation and has received editing and design support from Wild Dog Books (Australia). Photography is by Roan Paul Photography and Richard Bridger of Buk bilong Pikinini. All written and compiled by BbP Founder Anne-Sophie Hermann.

The readers are available for purchase from Theodist and directly from Buk bilong Pikinini’s office and webshop: https://bukbilongpikinini.charity/