Jobs to build Papua New Guinea
Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP) children have today had the opportunity to visit the exciting Hastings Deering compound to celebrate Book Week and launch a new reader entitled “When I Grow Up I want to be a Heavy Equipment Operator”.
6-year-old Tryphina Elai, who is featured in the book as a mini professional heavy equipment operator got to launch the reader, alongside his Hastings Deering role models, with Hastings Deering PNG & Solomon Islands Area Manager, Andrew Dare. Sonia Lakani, Hastings Deering Service Administrator, read the book to the children.
The 20 children were able to inspect all sorts of mining and construction equipment and were so excited to get into an excavator simulator, which gives a real-life experience of what it feels like to operate one. After the tour and book launch the Hastings Deering team treated the children to a lunch with hotdogs and cake.
Buk bilong Pikinini is grateful to Hastings Deering for their long-term support for the organisation and for providing the children with a fun and educational field trip, which will no doubt influence their future career choices.
Hastings Deering PNG & Solomon Islands Area Manager, Andrew Dare: said “The opportunity for HDPNG to invest in the future of young Papua New Guinean’s is an absolute pleasure for us to be a part of. Days like today we hope are not only lifelong memories for the children, but our staff as well, as they also learn another important part of our business – which is giving back to community. We would like to thank all Management, Staff and Volunteers of BbP as well as all Corporate Supporters in any capacity that have contributed to grow this wonderful opportunity for the past 15 years. We look forward to playing a small part for many years to come. “
This Book Week will see the launch of 7 new books in the organisation’s own published series “When I Grow Up, I want to be a …” series.
This includes a Pastry Chef with Airways Hotel, a Heavy Equipment Operator with Hastings Deering, - a Pharmacist and a Nurse with CPL, a Banker with BSP, an Architect with Pacific Palms Property and an Engineer with ExxonMobil PNG.”
The 7 additional books have been produced by BbP together with the organisations’ partners and with the financial support from the Sir Brian Bell Foundation. The children have been beautifully captured by BbP and Photographer Roan Paul with editing carried out by BbP Founder/ Chairperson Anne-Sophie Hermann and Wild Dog books.
These new 7 readers are in addition to the 6 launched in 2021, which included: a Pilot, a Teacher, a Store Manager, an CT Officer, a Farmer and a Paramedic.” Further titles in the series are currently in production.
Buk bilong Pikinini is grateful for the generous financial support it has received from the Sir Brian Bell Foundation, a Platinum Sponsor of the organisation, to produce this inspirational series of books. Thanks to the sponsorship, PNG children are able to read books which feature children just like themselves in leadership roles, learning about jobs that are needed locally and which are fun to read.
The readers aim to teach the children what it takes to become the different professions and to inspire the children to think about their future careers and understand the importance of education.
