Education stall and learning about future PNG jobs
Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP) was invited to set up a stall at the Theodist Education Pavillion at the Morobe Show on the 4th of November, 2023.
The BbP stall had an information booth to provide parents with information about the organisations’ free Early Childhood Education program, enrolment dates for 2024 as well as the great impact the BbP program has on the children’s English literacy skills, numeracy skills and general awareness.
In addition to information for parents, BbP had an exciting program for children and students, which included a reading and activity corner that invited children to colour-in and think about what they want to be when they grow up.
The hundreds of children that came to visit the BbP stall over the weekend also had the opportunity to purchase books in BbP’s very popular ‘When I Grow Up - I want to be a’ reader series, which portrays 5-year-old PNG children in professional roles.
The children could also visit the “When I Grow Up I want to be” Photo Booth and get dressed up in in professional attire such as a BSP Banker uniform, an Airways Pastry Chef apron and hat, a Brian Bell Store Manager uniform, Doctors and Nurses scrubs, Engineer and Heavy Vehicle Operator high vis vests, Lawyer robes, St John Ambulance uniforms, CPL pharmacist uniforms and much more.
Leanne Resson, BbP Executive Officer said: “As this was BbP’s debut at the show, we were not sure about how our books and activities would be received. We could not be more pleased about the great interest shown by hundreds of children and parents who came to enjoy their time with BbP. We sold so many of our readers and loved to see the children’s excitement and enthusiasm about their future career prompted by professional dress up fun.”
Anne-Sophie Hermann, BbP Founder & Chairperson said: ”We were so delighted to meet with so many parents and children from the wider Lae community and hear about their aspirations. Education provides people with the choice to pursue a career that interests them, if you are uneducated other people will choose for you. If children start thinking about their future from a young age, they are more likely to stay at school and complete their education. We were greatly motivated to see such a high interest in BbP’s ECE program and will be seeking to further expand in the region.”
BbP operates two Library Learning Centres in Lae. One is located at Lae Unitech and is sponsored by BSP Financial Group Limited and the other at Lae Showgrounds sponsored by the Sir Brian Bell Foundation.
