When I grow up – I want to be an Engineer
Girls and boys must be introduced to STEM from a young age to encourage them to pursue a career in medicine, science or engineering.
Buk bilong Pikinini’s Early Childhood Education program provides the children with foundations in numeracy, problem solving and various play-based STEM activities throughout the year. However, there is nothing like seeing how it all works first hand.
Today 5-year-old Dorcas Kilalema got the opportunity to explore what it takes to be an Engineer with ExxonMobil PNG. Dorcas was guided by two role models Kimberley Sabarei and Sebastian Hemetsberger, who showed her how a plant site looks and also made a visit the operations control room.
She also learnt how to operate a two-way radio and had a look at valves, compressors, pipelines and was of course dressed in full PPE.
Photographer Roan Paul and Visual Artist Robert Weber captured images of Dorcas who greatly enjoyed her field trip and the opportunity to touch all sorts of machinery.
A reader and video will be published and used as part of the BbP early learning program. Children just like Dorcas will be able read and understand what an Engineer does and able to aspire to a future career in the STEM field which is greatly needed in PNG.
BbP has published a series of books entitled “When I Grow up – I want to be a Teacher, – Pilot, – Store Manager, -Paramedic, – ICT Officer and – Farmer. These new books will be launched during Book Week in August.
EMPNG has been generously sponsoring Buk bilong Pikinini since 2011 and has provided support for Library Learning Centres, program outreach, teacher training, a learning app, resource development and Literacy Week.
Leanne Resson, BbP Executive Officer said: “We are deeply grateful to EMPNG for their long-term sponsorship of BbP and for providing the children with vital insight into the world of engineering.
We are confident that the readers and videos will inspire the children to want to pursue careers in this field. By seeing role models in action, the children will be able to understand that they too can aim for such careers despite coming from a remote village or urban settlement.”
Anne-Sophie Hermann, BbP Founder and Chair said: “Motivating children from a young age to pursue careers in fields that are unfamiliar to them can be a hard task. At BbP, we are incredibly thankful to our donor partners such as EMPNG for their amazing support to assist us with guiding the children towards vital careers for the country.
Girls in particular need that extra push towards STEM careers and it was fantastic to see 5-year-old Dorcas guided by EMPNG Engineer Kimberley Sabarei today.
Our partners have had mini uniforms made for the children and have welcomed the children into their world – we could not be more grateful.
We are looking forward to launching the books and videos and to inspire children across the country to pursue an education in STEM.”