Buk Bilong Pikinini, since its establishment in 2007, has outdone its aim of fostering a life-long love of reading and learning among early childhood.
The organisation has helped increased literacy rates by empowering vulnerable children in many local communities who missed out on the chance of getting a formal education; it also provides an opportunity platform for those who go to school but still lack the most essential tools for literacy; books.
In almost 10 years of operation, the fruits of its labour are sprouting out through young children performing exceptionally well in schools – proving that an early childhood learning foundation plays an important role in a child’s future.
2017 has been a busy year for Buk bilong Pikinini’s Library Learning Centres, where around 1000 children have been learning to read and get ready for school.
Changing the education outcomes for PNG’s children
Children who have attended Buk bilong Pikinini’s (BbP) Early Childhood Literacy program are turning heads in schools and communities across PNG thanks to their amazing reading skills.
Parents and community members have attended events and graduation ceremonies at BbP’s Library learning Centres and are stunned to find that children are able to read, do basic maths and have good general knowledge about Papua New Guinea.
Parents have also commented about how their children are more interested in going to school, wanting to learn and displaying better manners.
Success Stories of Buk bilong Pikinini Students
Baia Baigago Gagoa is a 2016 graduate of BbP program and was enrolled at Koki Elementary School in elementary prep. After joining the school, it was noticed that her performance was exceptionally well where she skipped grades twice in the year; she is now an elementary 2 student who finished off the year still on high notes bagging the highest award in English and Mathematics.
Another former student of BbP program was named the dux of the year from grade 4 Huonville Primary School in Lae Morobe Province; Tehila Anthony, now 10 years old, attended the program in 2013.
Tehila and her parents are very grateful for the BbP program for teaching her how to read and giving her such strong foundations.
Buk bilong Pikinini ending the year a success
Buk bilong Pikinini in their own success story has established itself as a book seller with outlets at Theodist and its head office in downtown Port Moresby; dealing with both in-house developed readers and picture books, including high-quality second hand books.
In 2017 alone, the program has helped with the re-establishment of more than 60 school libraries and has donated more than 40, 000 books for this purpose.
