Commissioner's wife helps establish libraries in Papua New Guinea
16/11/2009
Four new libraries aimed at giving children greater access to books and learning materials have been opened in Papua New Guinea, it has been announced.
Local businesses and volunteers joined forces with Sophie-Anne Hermann, the wife of Australia's high commissioner to the country, reports ABC Radio Australia News.
Located in the country's capital city Port Moresby, the idea for the four facilities came about when Ms Hermann realised there was nowhere nearby for children to borrow books.
The news provider quotes her as saying: "I just thought that cannot be right, what about all the children here? I can go on Amazon and buy books, but what about the kids in Papua New Guinea?"
All of the libraries are made from shipping containers and contain books that were donated by Australia.
Earlier this year, Xinhua News reported that Papua New Guinea was to benefit from the expansion of the One Laptop Per Child scheme, which saw 13 Pacific island nations handed 1,000 laptops to help promote learning among primary school children.
Written by John Curtis 
