Buk bilong Pikinini Literacy Week 2023 – Book Launches &Snake Awareness

200 children enrolled at Buk bilong Pikinini’s (BbP) Early Childhood Education program gathered today with donor partner companies, at the Port Moresby Nature Park.

BbP launched ‘When I Grow Up I want to be a Zoo Keeper’ – reader, developed with financial support from the Sir Brian Bell Foundation featuring

5-year-old Iruna Vagini with his role model  Zoo Keeper Rose-Bernadette Wakrima.  BbP also launched a colouring-in book ‘Animals of Papua New Guinea – Identify animals & colour in (Student handbook for Cultural Learning)’ developed with financial support from TotalEnergies -   at the exciting event at the Port Moresby Nature Park.

The event also included a Snake Awareness presentation conducted by POM Nature Park and St Johns Ambulance. This information is vital for young children as they are often victims of snake bites.

BbP’s Literacy Week also included the use of plush PNG animal toys, developed by local designer Meriba Igara, who was also at the event to introduce the animals such as the Bird of Paradise, a Tree kangaroo, a Cuscus, a Turtle and a Cassowary.

After the book launch and snake awareness, the children visited the park to see the animals they had been studying throughout Literacy Week. Followed by refreshments prepared by volunteers and donor partners.

The Buk bilong Pikinini Literacy Week program has been generously sponsored by ExxonMobil PNG.