Writing for children is fun, exciting, and wonderful. My children wrote their stories in their grade five composition class at Waigani Primary School. Their stories were edited with illustrations by Peter Ella and Thomas Ella, artists famous for the mural walls of the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium. These books bridge the gap between these young children in the Middle Fly schools and the rest of the world.
It was a dream to see books written for children end up in their hands. It is as beautiful as the water lilies in the lagoons of Balimo. The children’s books that my children wrote and published are now in the hands of the children of Balimo. At Auwaba primary school I witnessed school children read my book Muruk na Pato and daughter Cheryl’s book Two Sisters and Nokondi’s Head. The children at Miti Primary school read Jupi and the Magic Feather, and Two Brothers and a Wild Dog by Langston Winduo. The children read the books in front of their schools, teachers, parents, and me. The experience moved me to recollect my early years of my education in Wewak.
I was given the rare opportunity to visit schools in the KDF catchment area. I talked to the children about the value of reading. I was committed to spreading the word on reading as an important link between the village and outside world. I wanted children to develop reading habits at an early age before they are exposed to the visual and media communication technologies, which may radically alter their reality. It is critical that our children have a strong foundation in reading and writing to get them through the various stages of their education.
The KDF manages Balimo Teachers College, FODE, Light for Learning, and E
-learning. I am deeply touched to see the books my children and I wrote end up in the hands of a child as a reading material. I am a firm believer of PNG books for PNG readers.
The KDF manages Balimo Teachers College, FODE, Light for Learning, and E
-learning
I am deeply touched to see the books my children and I wrote end up in the hands of a child as a reading material. I am a firm believer of PNG books for PNG readers.
The KDF manages Balimo Teachers College, FODE, Light for Learning, and E
-learning
I am deeply touched to see the books my children and I wrote end up in the hands of a child as a reading material. I am a firm believer of PNG books for PNG readers.
All four books published by Manui Publishers are distributed to the Kokoda Track Foundation (KDF) catchment area schools as reading materials. The books are some of the first Papua New Guinean books to reach the children in these remote schools of the country. I am grateful to Kokoda Track Foundation and PNG Sustainable Development for having this foresight in bringing PNG books to our children.
We need to encourage and promote reading at an early age. Early childhood learning and primary school experience is more worthwhile if relevant books are made available. The Kokoda Track Foundation and PNG Sustainable Development Program (SDP) are in the fore front of this mission to improve the lives of people through appropriate learning strategic interventions.
Encouraging reading at an early age promotes the world of possibilities for many children in our rural primary schools. For most of them the world around them is the only reality. With the help of Kokoda Track Foundation (KDF) and PNG Sustainable Development Program (SDP) in Balimo relevant reading materials are now made available to school children in the beautiful Middle Fly lagoons, lakes, and water ways.
The young trainee teachers at the Balimo Teachers College were also encouraged to promote active reading and writing in schools where they teach after graduation.
A new era in Balimo is dawning. KDF is also tasked to oversee early childhood education progress in the great lakes. The selfless commitment of Quentinquaine Yingut senior coach and local coaches in the E-Learning program of KTF are admirable and exemplary. The KTF team in Australia and Papua New Guinea have a very strong support system. It is hard to ignore the courage and commitment of KTF personnel like Martha Bentley and Petra Arifeae.
A new college rising out of the dust of Balimo will one day shine in radiance as the water lilies of Sisago lagoon. It is still within the bubble at the time of my visit. In the next five to ten years the long hour glass drums of Balimo will be heard loud and clear.
There is a sense of purpose and urgency in what they do. Brian Wafia, the principal of Balimo College with a small group of dedicated staff have a lot of challenges to work with in fulfilling their mission. Enosh Ben (Principal FODE), Quentinquaine Yingut (Senior Coach E Learning), Walter Turuk, Jack Masil, and Mrs Esther N. Wafia (Head of Boarding) are truly exceptional people braving the harsh conditions of living and working in a remote place to improve the lives of people to participate meaningfully in the national development.
My contribution is only a drop of water in lakes country, but the gallant efforts KDF in educating the young people of Balimo and in other districts of the Fly River such as Lake Murray and Morehead is admirable. The mammoth task of providing teacher education and offering FODE to as many young people in this part of the world is no easy task.
I hope many of the trainee teaches of Balimo College will one day write their own books for their children. Books can be written and published based on a writer’s own background, culture, history, myths, and legends. From the writer's workshop conducted in two days I hope to help the trainee teaches publish their own children's books for their children in their own schools. Reading materials with local content has more relevance to a reader. I hope this will be a reality after the Balimo books are published.
Thank you KTF and SDP in Balimo for supporting this intervention. Thank you Brian Wafia KTF College for the pictures provided.
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