PNG author Caroline Evari opened the 2021 Book week celebration at Kopkop College on August 2, 2021, where she recounted her journey as a young writer and encouraged students to read and write more books.
Ms Evari says her visit to the school helps to create awareness amongst students on the importance of writing their own stories and having them published, believing that having PNG authored books displayed in school libraries inspires and promotes local literature.
Kopkop College kicked off this year’s National Book Week celebration under the theme, “Lockdown, Stay Safe, Read Books,” and looks forward to a week of fun-filled activities including visits to the National Library.
“I’m so excited to be here at Kopkop College,” says Ms Evari, who’s done a lot in promoting writing through workshops, seminars and school visits.
“Given that PNG is a diverse country there’s so many things that you can learn and it can be made possible through writing books,” she adds.
“And I believe that when we encourage a lot of Papua New Guineans to write books we can be able to accurately represent PNG.”
Ms Evari also toured the school and visited the Kopkop College Grade 1 class, where she read to them her new book titled “When I grow Up,” and heard from the kids what they would like to be when they grow up.
The lack of PNG authored books continues to inspire Ms Evari to visit schools and engage students in book and poem writing.
“If a Papua New Guinean child can see that there is a Papua New Guinean author standing and talking, they will automatically want to be like that person, and writing is something we don’t talk about everyday.”
Ms Evari, began writing at the age of six and is an author of 29 children’s books and a poet whose collection of poems are published under the title “Nanu Sina” or ‘My Words’.
Her visits and seminars are a way of promoting PNG writers who lack the confidence to step out and promote their books for use in PNG school libraries and other avenues.