The Ausenco Foundation is proud to continue our partnership with Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP) for a third year to help children with disabilities develop their literacy and numeracy skills at BbP’s Hohola library in Port Moresby.
BbP establishes and runs children’s libraries across PNG to help disadvantaged children become literate and learn how to better look after themselves. Located at the Red Cross Special Education Resource Centre in Port Moresby the Hohola library provides assistance to more than 200 disabled children enrolled at the school. With a special focus on supporting hearing and visually impaired children, Hohola’s Librarians provide tuition for more than 50 students on a daily basis.
The Ausenco Foundation began its support of BbP’s Hohola library in 2013. Since that time we have provided three full years of funding for operations and learning aids and materials. This year, in partnership with Kramer Ausenco we have also provided funding for a specialist teacher from the United Kingdom who is strengthening and adapting the BbP Literacy program to special needs learning. Kramer Ausenco has also provided in-kind and technology support.
BbP is also a strong advocate for educating the community and aiming to eliminate the stigma, isolation and lack of educational opportunities for people with deafness or hearing impairments and last week celebrated Hearing Awareness Week at a special function at Hohola. Guests included PNG’s First Lady Lynda Babao-O’Neill, representatives from the PNG Government, the Australian High Commission and the media. Bruce Nicholson and William Natera from Kramer Ausenco attended on behalf of the Ausenco Foundation.
The children performed by giving a sign language phonics demonstration, dancing, reading and showing the use of their materials. The children were also each presented with a bag containing books, literacy materials and small posters to promote signing between the children and their parents.
The Ausenco Foundation’s ongoing funding will enable the children and teachers to continue their learning and the development of a broader disability awareness program across BbP libraries. Members of the Kramer Ausenco team in Port Moresby will represent the Foundation and participate in a number of activities with the children at Hohola over the coming year.
For more information on BbP, please visit http://www.bukbilongpikinini.org/index.php/news.
Learn more about the Ausenco Foundation.