Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP) children on Thursday had the opportunity to visit BSP’s Port Moresby City Branch to celebrate Book Week and launch a new reader entitled “When I Grow Up I want to be a Banker”.
6-year-old Piro Namean, who is featured in the book as a mini professional banker got to launch the reader, alongside his BSP role model Jude Tamoko, with BSP Group CEO Robin Fleming.
Mr. Fleming read the book to the children and talked to them about the skills you need to work in banking.
The children were treated to a tour of the bank and got to see how things work behind the counter. This included trying the money-counting machine, receiving a piggy bank and meeting the full branch team.
Mr. Robin Fleming, BSP Group CEO said: “This Book Week will see the launch of 7 new books in the organization’s own published series “When I Grow Up, I want to be a …” series.
This includes a Pastry Chef with Airways Hotel, a Heavy Equipment Operator with Hastings Deering, – a Pharmacist and a Nurse with CPL, a Banker with BSP, an Architect with Pacific Palms Property and an Engineer with ExxonMobil PNG.”
The 7 additional books have been produced by BbP together with the organization’s partners and with the financial support from the Sir Brian Bell Foundation. The children have been beautifully captured by BbP and Photographer Roan Paul with editing carried out by BbP Founder/ Chairperson Anne-Sophie Hermann and Wild Dog books.
These new 7 readers are in addition to the 6 launched in 2021, which included: a Pilot, a Teacher, a Store Manager, an CT Officer, a Farmer and a Paramedic.” Further titles in the series are currently in production.
Buk bilong Pikinini is grateful for the generous financial support it has received from the Sir Brian Bell Foundation, a Platinum Sponsor of the organization, to produce this inspirational series of books. Thanks to the sponsorship, PNG children are able to read books which feature children just like themselves in
leadership roles, learning about jobs that are needed locally and which are fun to read.
The readers aim to teach the children what it takes to become the different professions and to inspire the children to think about their future careers and understand the importance of education.
Buk bilong Pikinini works with its partners to establish Library Learning Centers across the country which offers a free Early Childhood Education to 5-year-old children. The program includes literacy, numeracy, digital learning, health awareness and cultural learning.
In addition to this BbP also offers teacher training in its programs, library services and and special needs teaching. BbP also publishes its own books featuring PNG children and PNG culture.