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UNITED VOICE FOR EDUCATION

PNG holds the world record for the country with the most native languages spoken – more than 830 languages, not including English and Tok Pisin.

But unlike other PNG provinces where dozens of local languages are spoken, Enga is unique in that a single tribal language is spoken by the majority, making a recent delivery by Eddie Rimbao for Books 4 PNG Kids all the more important in building bridges to the outside world.

Enga is one of PNG’s highest and most rugged provinces, but because most people – about 165,000 belonging to the Maramuni tribe - speak the one language, there has not been an emphasis on learning another language such as English or Tok Pisin to communicate with the wider world and pursue the opportunities an education provides.

Eddie, a Griffith University graduate and former student of Anji Elementary and Minamb Primary School in Enga, gave of his time and money earlier this year to deliver 68 cartons of books donated by Books 4 PNG Kids to eight schools in Enga’s Wapenamanda district.

Eddie and the principals of four of the schools each contributed funds to hire a 4WD to transport the books to Enga overnight after Books 4 PNG Kids shipped them to Lae.

After a night-time drive from Mt Hagen to Lae, Eddie and team loaded the 68 cartons from Books 4 PNG Kids and then drove almost 12 hours to arrive in Wapenamanda, Enga, at 1am the next day, delivering books to some of the schools the same day.

“It was a great team effort with the head teachers of the respective schools and myself,” Eddie says.

Among the schools in Minamb LLG, Wapenamanda district, to receive the books from Books 4 PNG Kids were Salemanda Elementary in Salemanda village (8 cartons); Kawai Primary, Kawai village (9 cartons); Minamb Adventist Primary (pictured), Anji village (10 cartons); Minamb Bridge One SDA Elementary, Kitapales village (8 cartons); and Walya Elementary, Walya village (9 cartons).

Enga has a fast-growing population but it has also been affected by tribal fighting, so education is vital to give young people and communities a future and a hope.

Eddie says all the students, teachers and community members were excited to receive the books from Books 4 PNG Kids as they were longing to receive reading books.

Other schools in the district have also requested books, Eddie says, and all of the schools need more books.

Thank you to Veronica Toksy in Lae for her involvement and support for Books 4 PNG Kids, and also to Eddie and all the principals and community members involved in this impressively organised delivery.

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Volunteers are always welcome to join us on Fridays in Brisbane, packing and sorting books - any time you can give is appreciated as we couldn't do it without you! Just wear closed-in shoes. Lunch is provided.
Join us on Fridays, 9am-3.30pm, at 
39 Flanders St, Salisbury QLD

Currently accepting book donations suitable for preschool and primary school children, both fiction and nonfiction up to a reading age of 12, including picture books, beginner readers, textbooks, up-to-date atlases, dictionaries, geographical magazines, Bibles, unused maths and English workbooks, and stationery. No teachers' resources, thank you.

Please see our drop-off locations below. We are happy to collect 10 boxes of books or more at any location in Brisbane and southeast Queensland. 

Email all requests from PNG for schools there to books4pngkids@gmail.com