Pacific Kids' Learning Launches Pacific Digital Library: A Cultural Oasis for Pasifika Youth

In a move to preserve and share Pacific cultures with the younger generation, Pacific Kids' Learning (PKL) has introduced the Pacific Digital Library, a streaming platform dedicated to Pacific-inspired content for children.

The ad-free platform, accessible in nine Pacific languages and English, aims to bridge cultural knowledge gaps and revitalise endangered Pacific languages.

The Pacific Digital Library houses a large collection of cultural songs, dances, stories, and educational animations.

The platform's co-founder and Education Director, Theresa Tupuola-Sorenson, stresses the importance of preserving Pacific cultures in a rapidly changing world. With the launch of this platform, PKL strives to provide a cultural oasis for Pasifika families, allowing them to share traditions and stories with their children conveniently.

Theresa highlighted the platform's significance, stating, "By marrying technology with tradition, we can help bridge the cultural knowledge gap while creating entertaining and mana-enhancing content for our kids."

The platform features Pacific music and dance with motion-capture technology and animation. Theresa explains, "For Pacific people, dance is traditional storytelling, and it's another way that children can experience their stories and languages – through movement and music."

The Pacific Kids' Learning team, consisting of mothers and individuals with teaching backgrounds, draws upon their unique experiences to create culturally affirming content.

The platform's content covers a wide range, from traditional stories to innovative animations, aiming for a holistic approach to cultural education.

On the mission of PKL, Theresa states, "It's our mission to empower Pacific children, families, and educators with knowledge, skills, and pride in their culture."

The Pacific Digital Library not only targets Pacific communities but also aims to foster cross-cultural understanding globally. The platform's inclusive approach welcomes families from any community to explore and appreciate the richness of Pacific cultures.

The Pacific streaming service is free for a limited time, providing access to early childhood education (ECE) and primary school-aged children.

A teacher subscription, also free for a limited time, includes lesson plans, activity sheets, and other supporting materials to enhance educators' cultural competency.

PKL's commitment to community collaboration is evident in its partnerships with the New Zealand Ministry of Education, Creative New Zealand, and other funders.

The concept of the Pacific Digital Library emerged from PKL's years of developing children's content and collaborating with educational content creators.

Theresa explained the need for a Pacific-owned platform, stating, "We wanted to have a platform that belonged to Pasifika, created by Pasifika for Pasifika, safe, culturally safe, and accessible to Pasifika families."

Tatiana Marich, Finance Director for PKL highlighted their unique approach of emphasising the role of motherhood and its impact on their business. Theresa added, "The fact that we have mothers and those transferable skills from being a mother play a big part in how we run our business."

Recognizing the diaspora's challenges in maintaining cultural connections, Tatiana expressed the platform's role in connecting Pacific communities worldwide. "Even if you're living in a non-Pacific community, you have that connection to your community, your village on the Pacific Digital Library," she says.

Looking ahead, Tatiana expressed their vision of enabling other content creators to contribute to the platform. "We are working on a revenue-sharing framework to bring in other Pacific authors and content creators," she shared. Theresa highlighted the importance of including children in the production process, envisioning a future where kids from various Pacific nations actively participate in creating digital content.

By "bringing the village online," PKL aims to empower Pacific youth, bridge cultural knowledge gaps, and foster cross-cultural understanding. As the platform continues to evolve, it holds the promise of becoming a global hub for diverse, culturally affirming content that resonates with children and families worldwide.

For more information about Pacific Kids' Learning and to explore the Pacific Digital Library, you can visit the website here!

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By Faivaeselopepe Anric Sitanilei
Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ on Air