Buk bilong Pikinini Fubilan Library

Established by the LikLik Skul Foundation in partnership with StartMart, Kayop Investment Limited, the Tabubil Development Corporation, the Milum community, the Ok Tedi Mining Limited and Buk bilong Pikinini - the new ‘Buk bilong Pikinini Fubilan Library’ (named after Mt. Fubilan) - features an Early Childhood Education program, community library services and a school bus.

Most schools in Western Province have empty library shelves - one teacher mentioned that the last time they were able to order books was more than a decade ago in 2009. Miss Cathy Kiri, the principal of Tabubil International School said that: “Literacy is very important especially for the landowner children as after the mine is gone, what will happen to them? She added that these children have never left Tabubil and the library is a window to the world.” She applauded the initiative by the partners and Buk bilong Pikinini to establish the Library and the Early Childhood Learning Centre.

It has taken a lot of work to get this Library Learning Centre opened in such a remote location but everyone has pulled together and got it done for the community. Around fifty, five-year-old children from the Tabubil town community and the nearby mine villages are enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program. The children attend the program from 8am-2pm every day, which is delivered by Agnes Taiyo - a highly experienced Buk bilong Pikinini Head Teacher-Librarian and her team.

The community library is also open for all school children to attend on weekends.

To mark the opening of the Library Learning Centre the Buk bilong Pikinini Fubilan Library also received the donation of a 15-seater bus from Maino Lucas of Kayop Investment Limited. The bus will provide the children with much-needed transport from the villages.