Mission Pikinini: Teaching ukulele to children in Papua New Guinea

In October 2016, 14 year old Ashley, her 11 year old sister Sophia and their guitar teacher Dave will be travelling with a team of volunteers to Goroka – capital of the Eastern Highlands Province PNG. There they will join missionary Liz Hutton – founder of the Salem Training School to work together to help make the lives of local children better.

Pikinini is pidgin for child.

Children are the future of any nation.

A CHILD'S LIFE IN PNG

Papua New Guinea is a developing country that struggles to provide basic education, health, and infrastructure services. The country’s population is approximately 7.7 million people – 36.4% of whom are under the age of 15 years old. By comparison the same age group in New Zealand measures 20.4%.

The crime rate is considered amongst the highest in the world. Polygamy is legal. They also have one of the highest tuberculosis (TB) infection rates in the world, as well as the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDs in Oceania.

Only one in three children complete their education, with those in rural areas less likely to do so than in urban areas. Most schools don’t have piped water and rely on rainwater supply, which is often unclean or in extreme shortage during dry seasons.

In addition to all these challenges, children often grow up to suffer neglect and abuse. To compound these struggles, there also pressures on them to provide for their parents in later life.

ABOUT THE MISSION

The mission team will be based at the Salem Training School in the Eastern Highlands province of Goroka for 18 days. There they will be teaching the graduates and local children how to play the ukulele. They will also be holding art lessons to help create much needed visual aids for teaching purposes. There will even be some kiwi baking lessons!

The training school will also be holding a three day Children’s camp on the Salem grounds for the local children to come and engage in games and activities, bible stories and of course ukulele lessons.

ABOUT SALEM TRAINING SCHOOL

In 1992 the Salem Training School was established as a registered interdenominational ministry focussed on the training of children’s workers in all churches in PNG.

Salem’s sole purpose is to reach the children of the nation with the gospel. By teaching them Christian principles and providing counselling and support, Salem’s mission is to help steer children away from a life of violence, crime and poverty. To create generational change, and make Papua New Guinea a better place.

Furthermore, as part of their long term vision, Salem intend to build a Medical Clinic, and Care Centre. The clinic as a treatment alternative to the overloaded hospitals, and the Care Centre to provide for the children orphaned through HIV/AIDs.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Every little bit helps our mission.

Any donation you give will go towards the following:

• Ukuleles and pitch pipes

• Art supplies for lessons

• Small gifts for local children

• Food/water for the mission team

• Salem Training School operations

• The welfare of the children in Papua New Guinea

FOR ENQUIRIES

Email us at missionpikinini@gmail.com