On Thursday 18 June, RCCS club member, Helen Deutsch gave a presentation about her recent visit to Papua New Guina (PNG) and an update about the work of Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP), which is a longstanding focus of international service for the Rotary Club of Canberra Sunrise (RCCS).
For many years, club members have assisted BbP with the collection, sorting, and packing of donated books for shipment to PNG schools. Several iterative updates of the work of Rotary with Buk bilong Pikinini can be found in the club news stories below. In addition, RCCS has provided financial assistance for the purchase of new literacy materials and with the transportation of donations.
In 2019, a Rotary District grant enabled RCCS to provide new books, educational materials and literacy games for use at two Library Learning Centres (LLCs) in Port Moresby.
Since its inception 19 years ago, BbP has now grown to 25 LLCs across the country, providing children with a holistic Early Childhood Education program. BbP also trains teachers, publishes PNG content books for children, and runs a School Library Re-Establishment Program, delivering library resources to community schools nationwide.
Support for BbP aligns with Canberra Sunrise's wider history of international education and youth-focused projects in the Pacific region, particularly literacy and educational infrastructure initiatives.
With thanks to RCCS President-Elect Ainslie Sowden and Helen Deutsch.