Future Chefs in Action at Pizza Box, 9 Mile

As part of Book Week 2025, children from Buk bilong Pikinini’s (BbP) Evedahana Library Learning Centre (LLC) enjoyed a deliciously exciting excursion to Pizza Box 9 Mile, turning reading into a hands-on culinary adventure.

The children were warmly welcomed by Chef Rian, the Pizza Box team, and special guest Fredi Noviandi, Assistant Marketing Manager from Kone Development Ltd (SVS) and got given a behind-the-scenes tour of the busy kitchen. They learned about food safety, hygiene, and the importance of teamwork in the hospitality industry before rolling up their sleeves to make their own pizzas from scratch. From mixing ingredients to loading colourful vegetable and cheese toppings, smiles (and sauce) were everywhere!

The excursion brought to life BbP’s When I Grow Up I Want to be a Chef and When I Grow Up I Want to be a Pastry Chef readers, giving children a first-hand look at what these careers involve and showing them that, with passion and commitment, they too can use local ingredients to create culinary delights.

This visit also coincided with Buk bilong Pikinini's Nutrition Education Program (NEP), which focuses on nutritional literacy by teaching students about healthy eating for brain power and brain health. Children learned the importance of eating a “rainbow” of colorful fruits and vegetables, with the lesson that one healthy day can help keep them strong, healthy, and ready to learn.

BbP Founder and Vice Chair Anne-Sophie Hermann said, “Through our When I Grow Up series, we aim to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences. Thanks to Pizza Box 9 Mile and SVS Mart, the children didn’t just read about being a chef—they got to live it for a day. Experiences like this help them see that their future careers can be both exciting and achievable.”

The children enjoyed their handmade pizzas and generous gift bags, ensuring everyone went home with big smiles and plenty of inspiration.