Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP) recently launched a new book titled, ‘When I Grow Up, I want to be an Archaeologist’ at the National Museum and Art Gallery in Port Moresby.
This saw a total of fifty children enrolled in Buk bilong Pikinini’s Early Childhood Education program visit the National Museum and Art Gallery and had a hands-on experience to learn what Archaeology is all about.
The students took part in several fun and exciting plus educational activities including a reading session of the book ‘When I Grow Up, I want to be an Archaeologist’, followed by tour inside the museum where the children got to see real fossils.
The students also got to watch a demonstration made by archeologists on how they dig for fossils and other items such as obsidians and finally to end the program, the children then went on a dinosaur treasure hunt.
In relation to the When I Grow Up book series, founder and chairperson of BbP, Anne-Sophie Hermann stated that they developed this series to give children the opportunity to learn and the motivation to understand and appreciate the importance of education.
“It’s all about giving the children that access to know information and have the chance to have a hands-on, play based learning.”
“We at BbP believe in quality and in working with those who are specialists in their fields, so that they can give their very best to these future generation.”
In terms of archeology in the country, it is an important part of Papua New Guinea’s culture as the country itself has the most extraordinary cultural history and treasures.
“This is important for humanity, but it is also important for the children to know how the people used to live and what items people might have been using in their daily.”
In addition to this, Hermann said that children need to appreciate this rich culture that PNG has and be proud of it but also to fully understand it and that’s what this little reader is all about to give an insight on what archaeology is all about.
Meanwhile, Hermann thanked the team from the National Museum and Art Gallery for coming together in helping to prepare for the children’s activities. She also thanked special partner, Sir Brian Bell Foundation for their continuous support especially in helping to fund the books.
“We are very fortunate that we are able to provide these children with these high-quality books and with that, we are grateful for the support we received from Sir Brian Bell Foundation.”