Who we are

Our directors – Ray O’Farrell, Irene Sawczak and Sara White – have a strong background in education as teachers and book publishers.  We have a long association with Papua New Guinea and a deep respect for the country and the people.

Our work has taken us to every Province in the country: working with authors and illustrators; talking with teachers and education officials; trialing books in development and running teacher training workshops. This engagement with PNG educators, coupled with our knowledge of book publishing, ensures the cultural relevance and quality of our books.

Our publishing is informed by knowledge of ESL pedagogy and research on improving literacy skills in developing countries, especially in PNG. Our books train teachers by modelling best teaching practice.

We are not a not-for-profit organisation, but neither are we all about profit. Sales of our books enable us to keep Bilum Books alive. It gives us the funding to continue publishing more and more books for Papua New Guinea and funds our teacher training workshops. If our books are good enough, and our copyright is respected, Bilum Books will survive as an independent publisher for Papua New Guinea.

Click on the map below to read more about the reach of our work in Papua New Guinea.

Morobe Province - Lae

Phonics Workshop (Partner: Provincial Education Division)

Literacy Workshops (Partners: World Vision; Ginigoada)

Morobe Province - Ramu
SBC English Literacy and Phonics Workshops

Partner: Ramu Agri Industries

Madang Province - Madang

Phonics Workshop (Partners: Christian Books Melanesia; Provincial Education Division)

Literacy Workshops (Partner: World Vision, Madang Teachers College)

Madang Province – Usino Bundi & Middle Ramu
SBC English Literacy Workshops
Partner: World Vision

Madang Province – Megiar

Phonics Workshop (Partner: RD Tuna and UNICEF)

Literacy Workshops (Partner: World Vision)

Madang Province – Alexishafen

Phonics Workshop (Partners: Catholic Children’s Ministry & UNICEF)

East Sepik Province - Angoram
SBC English Literacy Workshop
Partner: Provincial Education Division

East Sepik Province – Wosera-Gawi
SBC English Literacy Workshops
Partner: Provincial Education Division

East Sepik Province – Wewak

Phonics Workshops (Partners: Provincial Education Division & Christian Books Melanesia)

Sandaun Province – Telefomin

Literacy Workshops
Partner: PNG-Australia Partnerships for Improving Education (PIE)

Sandaun Province – Tekin

Literacy Workshops
Partner: PNG-Australia Partnerships for Improving Education (PIE)

Sandaun Province – Vanimo

Literacy Workshops
Partner: PNG-Australia Partnerships for Improving Education (PIE)

Sandaun Province – Anguganak
Phonics and Vocabulary Workshop
Partner: Teachers Christian Fellowship Education Conference

Eastern Highlands Province - Goroka

Literacy Workshops (Partner: Care International, PKS program)

Presentation at the 2015 National Education Conference.

Enga Province – Enga

SBC English Literacy Workshops

Partner: PNG-Australia Partnerships for Improving Education 

Creating 33 digital storybooks in the Enga language (Partners: All Children Reading and The Asia Foundation)

Simbu Province - Kundiawa

Phonics Workshop (Partner: UNICEF)

Simbu Province - Karamui

SBC English Literacy 3-day Workshop

Partner: Care International

Hela Province – Tari

Meeting teachers and Provincial Education officials.

Southern Highlands – Mendi

Meeting teachers and Provincial Education officials.

Western Highlands Province - Mount Hagen

SBC English Literacy Workshops

Partners: PNG-Australia Partnerships for Improving Education

Jiwaka Province – Jimi District

SBC English Literacy Workshops

Partner: Care International

Central Province – Kairuku

Literacy Workshops (Partners: PNG-Australia PIE program; Digicel Foundation)

Creating 33 digital storybooks in the Hiri Motu language (Partners: All Children Reading and The Asia Foundation)

Central Province – Rigo

SBC English Literacy Workshops
Partners: PNG-Australia PIE program; Child Fund

National Capital District – Port Moresby

NDoE, Waigani – Regular meetings with Curriculum Officers.

Literacy workshops and training of trainers (Partners: PNG-Australia PIE program; Digicel Foundation; World Vision & ChildFund – T4E; NCD Education Department; Kokoda Track Foundation; WeCare; Ginigoada)

Oro Province - Popondetta

Meeting teachers and Provincial Education officials. Discussion of curriculum and teacher needs and reviewing books in development.

Milne Bay Province – Alotau

Phonics and Vocabulary Workshop in Alotau, Daga, Huhu, Makamaka, Maramatana, Suau

Partner: Provincial Education Division

Milne Bay Province – Trobriand Islands

Phonics and Vocabulary Workshops on Kitava, Kiriwina, Gawa, Woodlark Islands

Partner: Provincial Education Division

Western Provence - Kiunga

Bilum Books launch and literacy workshops

(Partners: PNG-Australia Partnerships for Improving Education; Cross Country School of Excellence.)

Western Provence - Morehead

SBC English literacy workshops and training of trainers

Partners: SDP and Kokoda Track Foundation

Western Provence - Balimo

SBC English literacy workshops and training of trainers

Partners: SDP and Kokoda Track Foundation

East New Britain Province – Kokopo

Meeting teachers and Provincial Education officials. Discussion of curriculum and teacher needs and reviewing books in development.

West New Britain Province – Kimbe

Meeting teachers and Provincial Education officials.

Manus Province – Lorengau

Meeting teachers and Provincial Education officials. Discussion of curriculum and teacher needs and reviewing books in development.

New Ireland Province – Kavieng

Meeting teachers and Provincial Education officials. Discussion of curriculum and teacher needs and reviewing books in development.

New Ireland Province – Namatanai

Phonics and Vocabulary Workshop

Partner: Nautilus Minerals

Autonomous Region of Bougainville – Arawa

Literacy Workshops
(Partners: PNG-Australia PIE program; Digicel Foundation LEED program

Autonomous Region of Bougainville – Buka

Literacy Workshops
(Partners: PNG-Australia PIE program; Digicel Foundation LEED program

Morobe Province - Lae
Phonics and Vocabulary Workshop
Partner: Provincial Education Division

SBC English Literacy Workshops

Partners:

  • World Vision (Lae, Markham Valley and Nawaeb)
  • Ginigoada Foundation (Lae)

Repeated visits meeting teachers and Provincial Education officials. Discussion of curriculum and teacher needs and reviewing books in development.

Morobe Province - Ramu
SBC English Literacy and Phonics Workshops

Partner: Ramu Agri Industries

Madang Province - Madang
Phonics and Vocabulary Workshop

Partners: Christian Books Melanesia and Provincial Education Division

SBC English Literacy Workshops

Partner: World Vision – Madang Teachers College

Repeated visits meeting teachers and Provincial Education officials. Discussion of curriculum and teacher needs and reviewing books in development.

Madang Province – Usino Bundi & Middle Ramu
SBC English Literacy Workshops
Partner: World Vision

Madang Province – Megiar
Phonics and Vocabulary Workshop
Partner: RD Tuna and UNICEF

SBC English Literacy Workshops
Partner: World Vision

Madang Province – Alexishafen

Phonics and Vocabulary Workshop

Partner: Catholic Children’s Ministry and UNICEF

East Sepik Province - Angoram
SBC English Literacy Workshop
Partner: Provincial Education Division

East Sepik Province – Wosera-Gawi
SBC English Literacy Workshops
Partner: Provincial Education Division

East Sepik Province – Wewak
Phonics and Vocabulary Workshops
Partners:

  • Provincial Education Division
  • Christian Books Melanesia

Repeated visits meeting teachers and Provincial Education officials. Discussion of curriculum and teacher needs and reviewing books in development.

Sandaun Province – Vanimo

SBC English Literacy Workshops
Partner: PNG-Australia Partnerships for Improving Education (PIE)

Sandaun Province – Anguganak
Phonics and Vocabulary Workshop
Partner: Teachers Christian Fellowship Education Conference

Sandaun Province – Telefomin
SBC English Literacy Workshops
Partner: PNG-Australia Partnerships for Improving Education (PIE)

Sandaun Province – Tekin
SBC English Literacy Workshops
Partner: PNG-Australia Partnerships for Improving Education (PIE)

Eastern Highlands Province - Goroka
SBC English Literacy Workshops
Partner: Care International (training of trainers) – PKS program

Presentation at the 2015 National Education Conference.

Repeated visits meeting teachers and Provincial Education officials. Discussion of curriculum and teacher needs and reviewing books in development.

Enga Province – Enga

SBC English Literacy Workshops

Partner: PNG-Australia Partnerships for Improving Education 

Working with local translators to create 33 digital storybooks in the Enga language.

Partners: All Children Reading and The Asia Foundation

Simbu Province - Kundiawa

Phonics and Vocabulary Workshop

Partner: UNICEF

Meeting teachers and Provincial Education officials. Discussion of curriculum, teacher needs and reviewing books in development.

Simbu Province - Karamui

SBC English Literacy 3-day Workshop

Partner: Care International

Hela Province – Tari

Meeting teachers and Provincial Education officials.

Southern Highlands – Mendi

Meeting teachers and Provincial Education officials.

Western Highlands Province - Mount Hagen

Meeting teachers and Provincial Education officials. Discussion of curriculum, teacher needs and reviewing books in development.

SBC English Literacy Workshops

Partner: PNG-Australia Partnerships for Improving Education 

Jiwaka Province – Jimi District

SBC English Literacy Workshops

Partner: Care International

Central Province – Kairuku

SBC English Literacy Workshops
Partners:

  • PNG-Australia Partnerships for Improving Education
  • Child Fund
  • Digicel Foundation

Working with local translators to create 33 digital storybooks in the Hiri Motu language.

Partners: All Children Reading and The Asia Foundation

Central Province – Rigo

SBC English Literacy Workshops
Partners:

  • PNG-Australia Partnerships for Improving Education (PIE)
  • Child Fund

National Capital District – Port Moresby

NDoE, Waigani – Regular meetings with Curriculum Officers. Discussion of curriculum and teacher needs and reviewing books in development.

SBC English literacy workshops and training of trainers

Partners:

  • PNG-Australia Partnerships for Improving Education - PIE program

  • Digicel Foundation LEED Program

  • World Vision & ChildFund – T4E
  • NCD Education Department
  • Kokoda Track Foundation (2021 – training of trainers via Zoom)
  • WeCare – settlement schools
  • Ginigoada – settlement schools

Working with local translators to create 33 digital storybooks in the Tok Pisin language.

Partners: All Children Reading and The Asia Foundation

Oro Province - Popondetta

Meeting teachers and Provincial Education officials. Discussion of curriculum and teacher needs and reviewing books in development.

Milne Bay Province – Alotau

Phonics and Vocabulary Workshop in Alotau, Daga, Huhu, Makamaka, Maramatana, Suau

Partner: Provincial Education Division

Milne Bay Province – Trobriand Islands

Phonics and Vocabulary Workshops on Kitava, Kiriwina, Gawa, Woodlark Islands

Partner: Provincial Education Division

Western Provence - Kiunga

Bilum Books launch, 2016.

Bilum Books launched in Kiunga to demonstrate our commitment to grassroots education in PNG.

SBC English Literacy Workshops

Partners:

  • PNG-Australia Partnerships for Improving Education.
  • Cross Country School of Excellence.

Western Provence - Balimo

SBC English literacy workshops and training of trainers

Partners: SDP and Kokoda Track Foundation

Western Provence - Morehead

SBC English literacy workshops and training of trainers

Partners: SDP and Kokoda Track Foundation

East New Britain Province – Kokopo

Meeting teachers and Provincial Education officials. Discussion of curriculum and teacher needs and reviewing books in development.

West New Britain Province – Kimbe

Meeting teachers and Provincial Education officials.

Manus Province – Lorengau

Meeting teachers and Provincial Education officials. Discussion of curriculum and teacher needs and reviewing books in development.

New Ireland Province – Kavieng

Meeting teachers and Provincial Education officials. Discussion of curriculum and teacher needs and reviewing books in development.

New Ireland Province – Namatanai

Phonics and Vocabulary Workshop

Partner: Nautilus Minerals

Autonomous Region of Bougainville – Buka

SBC English Literacy Workshops Partners:

  • PNG-Australia Partnerships for Improving Education – PIE program
  • Digicel Foundation LEED program

Autonomous Region of Bougainville – Arawa

SBC English Literacy Workshops Partners:

  • PNG-Australia Partnerships for Improving Education – PIE program
  • Digicel Foundation LEED program