Hamariko Primary celebrates the Bauro Language 

Feb. 21st 2024 was International Mother Language Day. Hamariko School, a primary school in Central Bauro, Makira, celebrated with Bauro language songs, poems, and speeches. Beatrice Tora, a primary teacher who grew up in central Makira, helped organize the event. Beatrice is passionate about children learning in the languages they understand the best, and for many kids in Central Makira, that language is Bauro. “Our language is our pride and our identity.” Beatrice says. “All children should be able to read and write in their own language.”

With the Multilingual Education Program being developed for Makira, teachers like Beatrice look forward to using more of their language in school and helping the children learn to read and write in their mother languages. At the celebration last Wednesday, teachers led their students in Bauro language poems, songs, and stories. The enthusiasm of the children reflected their love of their language and the dedication of their teachers in supporting them in learning it.

Naaman Brignall, a SITAG (Solomon Islands Translation Advisory Group) member working with the Bauro language community was invited as a special guest to the event. Naaman was thrilled to attend the celebration and see the kids and teachers celebrate Makiran languages. In honour of the day, Naaman and the Bauro Translation and Literacy team gifted the school ten copies of a draft Bauro language story book. These stories celebrate Bauro culture and language, and are part of the team’s effort to develop literacy and test the Bauro alphabet.

Naaman commented on the books that were gifted to both Hamariko and Manama primary schools, “As we work with Bauro language, it’s important for us to remember that children and youth actually make up the largest group of Bauro language speakers. We want to make sure that we are not only working towards resources for adults, but also resources that will be valuable to children and young people as they grow in their knowledge of their language.”