Our History

1956

SIL begins work in Papua New Guinea

first administrative office of SIL-PNG

An Act of the Independent State of PNG incorporates SIL-PNG

1957

gathered in the meeting house in Ukarumpa, PNG

SIL Aviation begins using a Cessna 170 leased from the Lutheran Church

The PNG Director of Education asks SIL-PNG to train government officials

1960

first orientation group for SIL-PNG

SIL-PNG receives UNESCO Literacy Award

1969

1st New Testament translation is dedicated (West Kewa language)

1973

West Kewa language was the first New Testament dedication by SIL-PNG

SIL-PNG signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the PNG National Department of Education

1974

practicing literacy

SIL-PNG begins teaching the National Translator Training Course (TTC) at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG)

1978

SIL-PNG receives a second UNESCO Literacy Award

1979

three men sitting together on language work

The PNG Bible Translation Association (PNGBTA) forms in partnership with SIL-PNG

1980

woman using a typewritter in the process of translation

SIL-PNG seconds literacy specialists to the National Department of Education

1988

100th New Testament translation is dedicated (Manam language)

1996

a New Testament dedication celebration in 1996

SIL-PNG establishes a Training Centre in Ukarumpa

1999

Ukarumpa in the Eastern Highlands Province in 1968

SIL-PNG publishes the 50th edition of ‘Data Papers on Papua New Guinea Languages’, documenting and preserving PNG’s languages

2005

men working at a table during a semantics course

His Excellency Governor-General Grand Chief Sir Paulias Matane marks SIL-PNG’s 50th anniversary

2006

Sir Paulias Matane visited SIL-PNG in celebration of 50 years of service in PNG
the Post Courier celebrated SIL-PNG's 50 years of service in Papua New Guinea

SIL-PNG begins a Church Engagement Partnership with PNGBTA

2010

The Bible Bilum Partnership forms with churches and Bible translation organisations active in PNG, including SIL-PNG

2013

200th New Testament translation is dedicated (Konai language)

2015

co-translators hold up the Konai New Testament, SIL-PNG's 200th dedication

SIL-PNG partners with Save the Children and delivers solar-powered literacy tools to 30 schools

2018

SIL-PNG establishes Linguistics Consultant Resourcing of PNG (LingCrop) and begins training PNG linguistic consultants

2021

LingCrop participants assist in a rapid word collection excercise

500th Bloom book is published in a PNG language

2022

a girl holds a mobile with a Bloom book on it