Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP) launched a reader entitled ‘When I Grow Up I want to be a Warehouse Manager’ with role model Nash Mali, Lae Warehouse Manager and mini professional Colette Sikalu. The reader was launched with events in both Lae and Port Moresby. BbP students invited the Sir Brian Bell Support Squad Team Members from several divisions to a special reading of the book today at the UPNG Library Learning Centre today. Brian Bell Group Warehouse Manager Nash Mali read the new book aloud to students accompanied by 5-year-old mini-professional Solcomp John. Following the reading. students attended special activities in a specially made warehouse to learn about supply chains, incoming and outgoing inventory at the warehouse, and stock take with mini clipboards of an incoming shipments. The students thoroughly enjoyed this experience learning about the role of a Warehouse Manager and watched a real forklift in action brought in from the Brian Bell team. Each student got an opportunity to sit in the forklift. Sir Brian Bell Foundation CEO & BbP Chairperson, Bronwyn Wright was pleased to be able to participate in supporting BbP. “The Sir Brian Bell Foundation and the Brian Bell Group are humbled yet again to be part of Buk bilong Pikinini’s ‘When I Grow Up’ book series as we showcase the important work and leadership our warehouse managers provide to ensure the Brian Bell businesses across the country thrive every day.” “Today’s launch is even more special as it provides us with a time to reflect on what our Brian Bell family lost at the hands of the unfortunate events of January 10th, but also what we have overcome and now what we are doing to Build Back Better for PNG.” BbP is grateful to the Sir Brian Bell Foundation for providing sponsorship for the whole ‘When I Grow Up I want to be’ reader series so the students can explore the many possible careers and opportunities in store for their futures. The six new titles that were published during Book Week 2024 and include: - When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Warehouse Manager with role model Nash Mali from Brian Bell Group, - When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Veterinarian with role model Dr. Tania Areori from NAQIA, - When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Tugboat Captain' with role model Michelle Boyama from Pacific Towing, - When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Hotelier with role model Dorothy Morea from Grand Papua Hotel, - When I Grow Up, I Want to be a Botanist with role model Dr Jane Mogina from Total Energies, and - When I Grow Up, I Want to be an Accountant with role model Netanya Stanley from Nasfund. Anne-Sophie Hermann, BbP Vice-Chair and Founder expressed her gratitude towards BbP’s sponsors. “We are grateful to the Sir Brian Bell Foundation for their amazing support to create a Warehouse Manager reader but also for sponsorship for the series as a whole.” “We seek to inspire the children and students to think about what they want to be in the future and are grateful to have such amazing role models for locally available jobs assisting us.” The WIGU series, now comprising 25 books, offers children a glimpse into a wide variety of careers they can aspire to pursue. Each book in the series helps students grasp various vocations, themes, and subjects by providing abundant visual cues and learning activities. These books, popular among instructors and students alike, depict vocations that are both necessary and accessible in Papua New Guinea. Many youngsters benefit from these books because they allow them to learn about vocations that they would not otherwise have access to. The series inspires young people to dream big and appreciate the value of education in reaching their goals. Aside from being a good reading tool, the WIGU series includes lessons on financial literacy, PNG culture, history, community-focused jobs, health awareness, agriculture, and wildlife conservation, which broadens pupils' overall understanding.

Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP) launched a reader entitled ‘When I Grow Up I want to be a hotelier’ with role model Dorothy Morea and mini professional Zaia Hane Solien. Children from Buk bilong Pikinini’s Vabukori village Library Learning Centre travelled to the Grand Papua Hotel to launch the reader with their role model. They got a tour of the hotel to see what is available to the guests and also learn what happens behind the scenes. After the reading launch, the children engaged in fun table setting activity to learn some new skills. “When I Grow Up, I want to be a Hotelier” is a level 3 Buk bilong Pikinini Reader, which showcases hotel professionals and their different roles, which all contribute to make the stay a memorable for the guests. The reader also discusses tourism, PNG culture and what tourists might like to see when visiting the country. Steamships Managing Director, Chris Daniells expressed delight at being able to support BBP. “Steamships Limited and the Grand Papua Hotel are proud to support Buk Bilong Pikinini's When I Grow Up reader series, which not only fosters a love for reading but also showcases the employment opportunities within the hospitality industry in Papua New Guinea.” “Literacy is the foundation of endless opportunities, empowering the next generation to reach their full potential. “ Said Anne-Sophie Hermann, BbP Vice-Chair and Founder expressed her gratitude towards Steamships and Grand Papua Hotel for their support. “We are grateful to Steamships and the Grand Papua Hotel for their amazing support to create this exciting reader for the children. “We are looking forward to seeing many more children gaining an interest in pursuing a hotel career and proudly showcasing the best PNG has to offer.” The WIGU series, now comprising 25 books, offers children a glimpse into a wide variety of careers they can aspire to pursue. Each book in the series helps students understand different professions, themes, and subjects, with ample visual clues and activities designed to aid in the learning process. These books, favoured by teachers and students alike, portray careers that are both essential and accessible within Papua New Guinea (PNG). For many children, these books provide a valuable opportunity to learn about professions that they might not otherwise encounter. The series encourages young minds to dream big and recognize the importance of education in achieving their goals. Beyond being an excellent reading tool, the WIGU series also incorporates lessons in financial literacy, PNG culture, history, community-focused jobs, health awareness, agriculture, and wildlife conservation, enriching students' overall knowledge. The ‘When I Grow Up’ series of readers is sponsored by the Sir Brian Bell Foundation and has received editing and design support from Wild Dog Books. Photography is by Roan Paul Photography and Richard Bridger of Buk bilong Pikinini. All written and compiled by BbP Founder Anne-Sophie Hermann. The readers are available for purchase from Theodist and directly from Buk bilong Pikinini.

It was another year that Theodist Limited was excited to announce the renewal of their K50,000 annual sponsorship for Buk Bilong Pikinini (BbP), marking a decade of unwavering partnership. This renewal highlighted Theodist’s long-standing commitment to advancing literacy and education throughout Papua New Guinea. This renewal emphasized Theodist's long-standing commitment to promoting literacy and education in Papua New Guinea. The announcement, delivered in Theodist's Port Moresby showroom, was a key feature of the National Book Week campaign, which began earlier this month. To commemorate this achievement, the children of Buk Bilong Pikinini were treated to a special visit of our Print Shop, where they got the rare opportunity to watch the printing process in detail. The program included a hands-on exercise in which the children could design and print their own brochures, giving them a glimpse into the dynamic world of graphic design and printing. Ryan Pini, Theodist Ltd.'s Corporate Development Manager, attended the occasion and expressed his satisfaction at being able to assist BBP. “This sponsorship represents more than just a financial contribution; it is a testament to our ongoing dedication to fostering the educational development of young minds in Papua New Guinea.” “Theodist’s commitment to literacy goes beyond financial contributions.” The collaboration with BbP resulted in the debut of the entertaining children's book series "When I Grow Up, I Want to Be a Graphic Designer," which provides an inspiring peek into the world of graphic design and printing. This series intends to stimulate child imaginations and inspire future careers in the creative business. Anne-Sophie Hermann, the founder and chairperson of Buk Bilong Pikinini, expressed her genuine appreciation for Theodist's ongoing assistance. "Theodist's steadfast commitment has been instrumental in allowing Buk Bilong Pikinini to expand our Library Learning Centres nationwide and deliver exceptional services." "We are deeply thankful for their dedication to literacy and education." Since 2014, Theodist has been a proud Gold Sponsor of Buk Bilong Pikinini, highlighting their continued commitment to improving access to education and literacy in Papua New Guinea. Theodist also runs a little BbP library at the Port Moresby shop and a BbP bookshop within it, with all earnings benefiting BbP's purpose. We also have a book collecting bucket in-store where you can donate pre-loved books to be revived for BBP. Our decade-long engagement with BbP demonstrates our commitment to collaborative efforts to advance community advancement. Theodist's dedication to supporting impactful programs remains strong, and they hope to continue this cooperation for years to come, working together to empower PNG's future leaders and produce long-term advantages for education and literacy.

This is not the first time that Port Moresby Nature Park conducted educational programs for schools in NCD, and the Culture Connects Program is one of many examples. The 3-week program which began on August 12th, International Youth Day, was created to educate children on traditional practices which are not easily taught and practiced due to many children growing up in urban areas. Port Moresby Nature Park Education Manager, Shirley Mogi, describes the program as ‘taking a walk back in time’. “It was designed to reintroduce kids to certain cultural practices that help to conserve or sustain the natural environment.” “We are taking a closer look into the cultural practices carried out by our ancestors.” She explained that when Papua New Guineans discontinue their cultural practices, it results in having a lack of respect towards nature. “Our ancestors had rich knowledge about nature; they read the tides, could understand the times and seasons – nature provided their needs and thus, they developed respect towards their environment.” “Presently, however we just wipe out whatever resources we can lay our hands on, not caring about the consequences.” Roughly six (6) schools have already participated in the program and about 1, 700 students were educated. Despite having to postpone some trips due to bad weather, student numbers have skyrocketed. Mogi explained that every three years, topics taught in Culture Connects are revised and new topics are introduced. “This year's topics include, sacred sites, traditional medicine, taboos & customs and traditional tools – these are the stalls the children visit to learn more.” “Last year was our final year learning about traditional patterns and designs, traditional weaving, traditional money and traditional music.” Mogi encouraged more individuals, groups and organizations to participate in Culture Connects. “We do not only reach out to schools, we communicate with church groups, youth groups and community groups as well.” She also expressed her gratitude towards NCD Transport for helping to transport children and Sir Brian Bell Foundation for subsidizing students' fees. Culture Connects will end on August 30th, 2024.

In an effort to maintain the practice of bilum weaving, the Western Highlands Provincial Administration pledged K20,000 to the Friendly Home Bilum Festival. The festival took place in the Wamp Nga Secondary School in Mount Hagen, Western Highlands Province, on August 17, 2024. Present at the event were Mr. Richard Lazarus, Executive Manager of Commerce and Tourism Western Highlands Province, who was representing Western Highlands Governor Wai Rapa; Mr. Eddie Paraka, Marketing Manager of Digicel Mt. Hage; Mrs. Geno Alova Reuben, Events and Festival Manager NCC, who was representing Mr. Steven Enomb Kilanda, Executive Director of the National Cultural Commission (NCC); Mr. James Kewa, Director of Friendly Home Lodge; Mrs. Julie Kewa, Director of the Friendly Home Bilum Festival, and other dignitaries. Lazarus thanked the Kewas for hosting the festival and bringing people together to celebrate the art of culture and bilum weaving. "The Governor’s office was pleased seeing people take this initiative to create events such as this to keep our culture alive." Reuben, meanwhile, claimed that women are encouraged by participating in the bilum festival. "This festival gives them the chance to share their stories, show off their talents, and assume leadership roles in order to instruct the young girls." "It underscores the resilience and inventiveness of women, contributing to their acknowledgement and appreciation across all facets of our cultural existence." "We think that by supporting this event, we're promoting gender equality and empowerment in addition to preserving our heritage." "When you see a bilum, you are witnessing a woman's labor and intricate work." A K5, 000 check was presented by the National Cultural Commission to support, improve, and guarantee the festival's future success. The Friendly Home Bilum Festival is a unique occasion that showcases women's abilities in bilum weaving and empowers them. Women can showcase their works, pick up new skills, and get guidance on making their art into a business during the event. The festival supports women's economic independence, skill recognition, and the preservation of traditional weaving methods.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) hosted a Family Fun Day across Port Moresby, Lae, Kokopo, and Mt. Hagen recently, recognizing the efforts of its staff, The event brought together colleagues and their families for a day filled with engaging activities, delicious food, and live entertainment, reinforcing the strong community spirit within the company. Tim Solly, Sales and Commercials Director of CCEP PNG, in thanking the staff and their families at the event, stated that CCEP believes that their strength comes from the connections built, not just at work but also within our extended families. “This Family Fun Day is a testament to our commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive environment for everyone.” Vanessa Potul, Regional Activation Manager, Southern Region, shared her experience. “It was a fantastic day! The activities were fun for all ages, and it was great to see everyone relax and enjoy themselves outside of the work environment. It truly felt like a big family gathering.” In Kokopo, Jack Kekep, Regional Sales Manager - NGI, added that the event allowed employees to connect with colleagues’ families in a meaningful way. “It’s initiatives like these that make CCEP more than just a workplace—it’s a community.” As CCEP continues to make, move, and sell the world’s most loved brands, events like the Family Fun Day remind us that it all starts with the people who bring our values to life every day.

The hip-hop dance team Wan Squad, who placed first at the World Hip Hop International Dance Championships while representing Papua New Guinea, has received congratulations from Prime Minister James Marape. Prime Minister Marape expressed his pride at the accomplishments and dedication of this group of young men, saying they had elevated Papua New Guinea on the international dancing scene. "I spoke to the young people at the NCD Youth Summit & Expo on Monday of last week, emphasizing the value of pursuing your passion and dedicating yourself to it.” “Wan Squad is the perfect example of this. They did not wait around for some- one to come and spoon-feed them, but found something useful and positive to engage in, committed themselves to it, and have gone on to beat the best in the world. “Hip Hop dance, music and culture is African American in origin where the music was started as a response against drugs and violence in America. It is special that our boys have gone to beat the best in the world on American home soil, the home of hip hop." “I commend them for their commitment to their craft, for working hard, and getting the recognition that they deserve.” “I also commend their sponsor Pacific Industries Ltd for its support of our boys.” “Papua New Guineans have the potential to be good in anything they set their minds to - we have pilots who are flying with some of the best airlines in the world, scientists, and professionals who are excelling in their respective fields and working in the country and overseas. “We can be anything we want to be if we commit time and effort into what we do.” “Well done, Wan Squad.” Meanwhile, the Wan Squad team will arrive back in country tomorrow, Wednesday 21st August 2024.

Together with Nasfund, Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP) released a reader yesterday titled "When I Grow Up, I Want to Be an Accountant." Children came dressed as their dream careers for the occasion, which was held at BbP's 6 Mile Library Learning Centre (LLC). At the launch were miniature professional Thapau Clement wearing a matching Nasfund outfit and Nasfund role model Netanya Stanley, who inspired the kids in attendance. Young readers were given the opportunity to learn about accounting through enjoyable and instructive exercises during the event, which featured a variety of engaging financial literacy activities guided by a team of Nasfund professional accountants and financial advisors. “When I Grow Up, I want to be an Accountant” is a level 4 Buk Bilong Pikinini Reader, which delves into the work of an accountant, explaining to students that an accountant is a person who keeps track of money, including how much is coming in and going out of a business or an organization. Nasfund role model Netanya Stanley who works as an accounts officer in the Finance Division of Nasfund, encouraged young readers to persevere in their education to reach their chosen profession in the future. “If you love numbers, you will love accounting.” BbP Vice-Chair and Founder, Anne-Sophie Hermann expressed her gratitude to Nasfund for their long-term support to BbP. “Through their provision of an office space since 2010, BbP has been able to grow to serve thousands of children in our LLCs with a comprehensive Early Childhood Literacy program every day.” “With the addition of the reader, we launched today, we can work together to provide young children with an opportunity to become financially literate from a young age, which will allow them to learn to look after their families well and save money for the future.” The WIGU series, now comprising 25 books, offers children a glimpse into a wide variety of careers they can aspire to pursue. With plenty of visual cues and learning activities, each book in the series assists students in understanding various themes, professions, and courses. Favored by both educators and learners, these publications present vocations in Papua New Guinea that are both necessary and attainable. These books give a lot of kids a great chance to learn about careers that they might not otherwise hear about. The series inspires young people to have big dreams and understand the value of education in reaching their objectives. In addition to being a great reading resource, the WIGU series enhances students' understanding by teaching them about financial literacy, PNG culture, history, jobs that focus on the community, health awareness, agriculture, and wildlife conservation. Leanne Resson, BbP Executive Officer stated that it was vital for young children to have role models to aspire to so they can understand the importance of education and see themselves in professional roles they may otherwise not have thought possible. “BbP publishes books with and for PNG’s children and we could not be more grateful for Nasfund’s support to create this vital financial literacy reader.” Nasfund has been a proud Platinum partner of BbP since 2010, supporting the charity through various initiatives, including the WIGU book series. This partnership highlights Nasfund’s commitment to investing in the future of PNG by supporting educational programs that inspire and empower the nation’s youth.

The Bomana Police Dog Unit had the honor of showcasing their officers’ training in dog handling at the 2024 RSPCA Dog Show, on Saturday 17th August, at Ela Beach, Port Moresby. A total of seven handlers brought with them their furry friends to showcase feats of athleticism, obedience, illegal item identification and dog tricks. The trained dogs had specific jobs of drug sniffing, bomb/explosives sniffing, firearm identification and general purpose. They started off with obedience training in which the dogs were given verbal commands of sit, stand, down and heel; after successfully following the commands, they were rewarded with a moment of play with their handlers. Later, officers demonstrated how dogs help in identifying illegal items by carefully concealing tiny samples of marijuana within the dog show obstacle course which was successfully found by the police dog, Astro and his handler, Constable Edward Baimba. Finally, the handlers got their dogs to showcase their athleticism by jumping through obstacles (hoops). The ultimate test was when the hoops were set on fire, which was passed in flying colors by Muno, one of the oldest dogs on the team. The RSPCA Annual Dog Show is not only about celebrating the bond between owners and their pets, but also gives information on the best and appropriate care for animals.

SP Brewery conducted a Responsible Service of Alcohol Training (RSA) with 18 individuals from the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) on Friday 16th, August, individuals with experience working in the tourism and hospitality sector. The training was done with the purpose of informing and educating participants on the how's and why's of serving alcohol safely to consumers. SP Brewery's Corporate Affairs Manager John Nilkare welcomed the participants enthusiastically and spoke on how they would benefit from this training. "While working in your respective areas you may come across some of our customers, and they wish to have trained and experienced individuals engaging in safe alcohol service." He further encouraged the participants to ask a lot of questions in order to gain more knowledge about SP Brewery. The students were later briefed on the brewery's safety procedures, which was led by SP Brewery's Safety Manager, Geraldine Makui. Afterwards, they were taken into the brewery for a tour. During the tour, participants experienced first-hand the processes involved in producing alcohol. After the tour, selected employees of SP Brewery were tasked with educating the 18 individuals on various topics concerning alcohol. Topics included, the history of SP Brewery, it's products, different types of alcohol, the side effects of alcohol, how to engage with drunken customers and further safety procedures. Participants were given the opportunity to practice serving beer before actually serving the staff of SP Brewery later on as part of their training.

Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas announced a commitment of K10, 000 towards supporting the recently held Malamata Yapo Cultural Festival. The funding will help in maintaining the newly revived Malamata Yapo Cultural Centre. He emphasized in his speech the value of cultural events in determining community needs and providing services. "We can identify community needs and deliver services more effectively through these cultural festivals." The governor commended the National Cultural Commission for reaching out to isolated places that frequently lack access to government services. "The National Cultural Commission is committed to working with rural areas to deliver cultural services and programs, and we are making great progress in this regard by reaching out to them." He also outlined plans to assist children from Malamata and nearby communities attend nursing and teachers' colleges which will enable them to serve their communities in the future. He also outlined plans to start air services from Wapenamenda to Malamata through a partnership with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) after the airstrip fence is finished. In order to help maintain the school and build student housing for the children from the area's farther-flung villages, Governor Ipatas also bought a walkabout saw mill. He promised K200,000 last year, and he still plans to contribute K200,000 to the community school and other initiatives. Meanwhile, Mr. Steven Enomb Kilanda, Executive Director of the National Cultural Commission, underlined the importance of culture in spurring economic growth and drawing necessary services to remote communities. He called on the Malamata community to maintain the cultural center and take charge of the ongoing projects.

Reggae fans, get ready to spice up your playlists! Prominent worldwide recording and touring musician Anslom has teamed up with legendary The Wailers multi-instrumentalist and producer Aston Barrett Jr. for his upcoming track "Release the Birds," which will be released under the renowned Kingmaker label. The much-anticipated song will be released on Friday, August 16, 2024. With his electrifying performances and his unique brand of reggae that draws heavily from the best in the genre—Bob Marley & The Wailers, Peter Tosh, Toots and the Maytals, Inner Circle, Chaka Demus & Pliers, and Lucky Dube—Anslom's talent has swept across five continents. "Release the Birds" is an additional chapter in Anslom's remarkable career journey. The much awaited "Make Me Smile" song, which is predicted to become a huge global smash, is a duet between Anslom and Jamaican reggae superstar Chaka Demus off their upcoming album this year. Reggae music lovers can stay upbeat by interacting with Anslom on his different digital channels.