Buk bilong Pikinini’s 2026 Book Week has given young learners the chance to take their learning beyond the classroom and explore different careers through hands-on workplace experiences.
Students from quite a few Buk bilong Pikinini Library Learning Centres (LLC) visited Theodist, Hastings Deering, Airways Hotel and Dulux Group (PNG), where they met professionals and participated in activities linked to the organization’s When I Grow Up career readers.
At Theodist, students from the Koki LLC were introduced to graphic design and printing. They toured the Print Shop, met the design team and saw how ideas are turned into brochures, booklets, banners, signage and other printed materials.
The students also got a behind-the-scenes look at large printing and folding machines, bringing the When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Graphic Designer reader to life.
The Koki students also visited Hastings Deering, where they explored the world of heavy equipment operations.
They toured different areas of the yard, including parts processing and service areas, before receiving a hands-on introduction to operating a forklift and backhoe. The experience connected with BbP’s When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Heavy Equipment Operator reader and showed the children the skills involved in the industry.
At Airways Hotel and Residences, children from the 9-Mile LLC explored the hospitality and culinary profession through a pizza-making master class.
After a reading session featuring When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Pastry Chef, the children learned how to prepare pizza bases, spread sauce, add cheese and choose their favourite toppings before baking their creations.
The next day, students from the Pari LLC explored colour, creativity and the paint industry during a visit to Dulux Group (PNG).
The children took part in an interactive Colour Play session, experimenting with colour mixing, rollers and brushes while creating handprints and artwork. They also visited the Dulux warehouse and watched how different paint colours are created.
Buk bilong Pikinini says the Book Week excursions are designed to connect literacy and early learning with real-world experiences, helping children develop curiosity, confidence and aspirations for the future.
