MANY RIVERS

This school on the mouth of PNG’s mighty Waria River in Morobe Province had no books and no library until the delivery of these books donated by Books 4 PNG Kids.

Toyare Primary School is only accessible by sea, so SERACS Foundation’s Ponsie Yasaro and Jennifer Siraba delivered the 5 cartons of books by boat on March 17 this year.

The school’s 210 students, teachers, BoM chairman Nelson Borowa and parents welcomed the donation of hundreds of books  - enough to start a school library and a book club to encourage students to read.

Toyare Primary’s head girl and boy thanked SERACS and Books 4 PNG Kids for the donation. Grade 4 students sang in appreciation.

The donation was part of a major delivery by Ponsie and Jennifer earlier this year to a total of 12 primary and elementary schools along the Waria and Mou Rivers, as well as Morobe Primary School in Morobe town.

After Books 4 PNG Kids donated and shipped 153 cartons of books from Brisbane-Lae in 2024, Ponsie, a research associate with SERACS Foundation, organised the delivery to the schools.

First they travelled by dinghy with the books from Lae to Morobe - a 6-hour journey across the Huon Gulf. 

It took longer than usual to reach Morobe, 130km SE of Lae, due to poor weather.

Then they travelled further by sea to reach the schools along the Waria River.

Ponsie and Jennifer introduced a “book reading club” concept to help students develop reading skills early on by filling out a Book Review form for each book they read.

“These resources are expected to benefit approximately 2,873 students – 2,419 primary school students and 454 elementary students,” according to SERACS Foundation which promotes community development including adult, youth and financial literacy for disadvantaged people in PNG.

Future generations of students in Morobe LLG will also benefit.

Books 4 PNG Kids proudly acknowledges partners Kayop and Maino Lucas for supporting children’s education in PNG.

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Books4PNGKids is proudly supported by Kayop, helping books reach children and communities across Papua New Guinea.

Thank you, Kayop, for your generosity, partnership and belief in children’s literacy in PNG.

Books open minds. Opportunities change lives.

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