Literacy Week 2023 - Children’s Market Day for Financial Literacy

Children enrolled at Buk bilong Pikinini’s (BbP) Library Learning Centers (LLCs) will hold Market Day to learn about basic financial literacy

Parents, teachers and members of the community around BbP’s LLCs have assisted with building “child-size” market stalls, where children will use their financial literacy and numeracy skills to set up shop and "pretend sell" food and play items to each other, parents and invited guests for Literacy Week Market Day.

Today, the first Market Day was held at BbP’s 9 Mile Monier/Hebou LLC located next to Rouna Quarry.

The Market Day activity has been supported with fresh food, packaged foods and drinks generously donated by: Ilimo Dairy Farm, 9 Mile Farm, Trukai, Supreme Industries, CPL, Oceania Beverage, SVS Mart 2 Mile, BNG Trading, Airways Hotel, Pacific Industries and Sanitarium. SVS Mart also organised for their mascot cow to visit – much to the delight of the children.

As the children learn about how to display their goods, conduct basic transactions with their mini cash registers and give change, they also have a great time as they gain basic financial literacy skills. Play-based learning is an important component of BbP’s Early Childhood Education program, which seeks to empower the children through literacy, numeracy and general awareness about topics that directly affect them.

Other aspects of BbP’s Literacy Week have included the study of PNG animals and their cultural significance. This also extends to working towards identifying the animals displayed on the country’s notes, coins, emblems and flag.

Volunteers from BbP’s donor partner companies, such as the Sir Brian Bell Foundation Support Squad, the ExxonMobil PNG “yellow army”, NWTL, Ilimo Dairy Farm (including Daisy the mascot), SVS Mart, Indomilk, Nestle and many more at BbP’s LLCs across the country - have assisted with making the Market Day Literacy Week celebrations both memorable and educational for the children.

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