When I Grow Up I want to be an Archaeologist - Book Launch
Archaeology is important for both the people of Papua New Guinea but also for humanity as the country has some of the oldest agricultural sites in the world. More Archaeologists will be needed in the future, to unearth more of the fascinating stories PNG has to share, which might soon include dinosaurs…
To launch a new book entitled ‘When I Grow Up, I want to be an Archaeologist’ 50 children visited the National Museum and Art Gallery (NMAG). The children, who are enrolled in Buk bilong Pikinini’s Early Childhood Education program, had hands-on experience to learn what Archaeology is all about.
Together with NMAG Archaeologists, they viewed ancient fossils, learnt how to carefully dig out treasures and hunted for dinosaurs at the premises.
The readers have been published by BbP with the financial support from the Sir Brian Bell Foundation. The children have been beautifully captured in their mini professional roles by BbP and Photographer Roan Paul with editing carried out by BbP Founder, Anne-Sophie Hermann and Wild Dog books.
The Sir Brian Bell team volunteers was part of the celebration. Ilimo generously donated milk products and Joi Juice, CPL donated bottled water and Oceania beverage donated TANG soft drinks which kept everyone refreshed as they dug and hunted for dinosaurs.
Loretta Hasu, Museum Education Manager said: “The PNG National Museum and Art Gallery is thrilled to partner with Buk Bilong Pikinini this year to launch the reader “When I grow up I want to be an archaeologist” It has been a great privilege to work alongside Buk Bilong Pikinini to come up with this wonderful booklet that we believe will inspire the young ones to be interested in the field of archeology.
As educational as it is, we hope the children will read the book and appreciate the role archeologist play in using the archaeological remains to reconstruct the past so we all can understand what life was back then; how our people lived, what they ate, where they went, what they used and what the environment and climate was long, long time ago.
Having a cultural reader is important for early learners and we would like to thank Buk Bilong Pikinini under the guidance of Anne-Sophie Hermann for her foresight as always in making culture studies an important aspect for the early learners in PNG and we are proud to say Buk Bilong Pikinini is leading the way in that respect.
We would also like to express our outmost gratitude to the numerous sponsors that made it possible for the reader “When I grow up I want to be an Archaeologist” to be printed and published. Thank you to the Buk Bilong Pikinini team, NMAG team and of course our photographers for all your contributions.”
BbP has already published 13 titles which include a Pilot (PNG Air), - Teacher (BbP), - Store Manager (Brian Bell), - ICT Officer (Niunet), - Farmer (9 Mile Farm/Ilimo Dairy, – Paramedic (St Johns Ambulance), - Architect (Pacific palms Property), - Pastry Chef (Airways Hotel), - Heavy Equipment Operator (Hastings Deering), - Engineer (ExxonMobil), - Pharmacist & Nurse (CPL) and Banker (BSP).
Children enrolled at BbP’s Library Learning Centres across PNG will study the different professions with play-based learning activities, field trips, visits from professionals and plenty of reading.
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 will seek to inspire them to stay at school and obtain an education.
