Expatriate journalist Alfredo P Hernandez receives from Francesca Kupe, office manager of Buk Bilong Pikinini, a "bilum" of children’s books which are part of the 347 pieces of old and new books donated to Tembari Children’s Care (TCC) last Wednesday. – Photo courtesy of Buk Bilong Pikinini.
By ALFREDO P HERNANDEZ
A Friend of Tembari Children
THE Tembari children were proud recipients of books from Buk Bilong Pikinini (Books for Children), a book charity based in Port Moresby.
The donation was turned over to me last Wednesday by Aussie expatriate Diane Popple, children’s book evaluator, and Francesca Kupe, office manager of Buk Bilong Pikinini.
The many boxes that I received contained 347 new and used books collected from different libraries and publishing houses in Australia as well as individual donors.
This donation is very timely because we have a growing number of schoolchildren and preschoolers who, at their young age, needed to be exposed to the joys of reading.
These books would help us start a mini-library which would lend books that our young learners at Tembari would have particular interest in.
Buk Bilong Pikinini aims to focus on early learning (as a key to literacy) through the creation of small libraries in communities based localities such as near settlements, clinics and market places.
“We collect books from private individuals and publishing houses and seek to obtain funding for our libraries through various fundraising efforts as well as through corporate sponsorships,” BBP said on its website.
For the school year 2012, Tembari will have 117 schoolchildren in elementary and primary schools and about 110 young learners at the facility’s preschool.
Ms Popple told me that they heard about Tembari children from a friend of hers, Ms Narelle Levey, who teaches at the Ela Murray International School (EMIS) in Port Moresby.
She said that one of her kids is studying at the school.
Ms Popple said that My Levey had recommended Tembari tobe one of the recipients of book donations that BBP would be making in the next several weeks.
Ms Popple contacted me through email to relay the good news about a bunch of books that would be coming to Tembari.
Thanks a lot, Buk Bilong Pikinini!
Email the blogger: ahernandez@thenational.com.pg and aphernandez58@yahoo.com
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