Today is Indigenous Literacy Day
Today is Indigenous Literacy Day.
Literacy unlocks the keys to learning; without those keys the choices available to children are severely limited. As the world becomes more complex and connected it is more important than ever that all our children have access to the education that will help them make the choices that are appropriate to them. Statistically, there has been no significant improvement between 2008 and 2014 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at or above the national minimal standard in reading and numeracy across the eight measures (i.e. in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9), and between 40% and 60% of Indigenous children living in very remote locations across WA, SA and NT are achieving below minimum standards in Reading in Year 3.
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) was founded in 2005 by Brisbane bookseller Suzy Wilson and is working to raise the literacy levels of Indigenous Australians living in remote communities. It does this through its three core programs:
1. The Book Supply program has supplied 38,000 culturally appropriate books, free of charge, to over 200 remote communities so far this year. By year’s end it will be 50,000 books to approximately 250 communities. The ILF’s aim is to extend this program to all 400 remote communities in Australia.
2. The Book Buzz program supplies culturally and developmentally appropriate books and First language translations for babies and toddlers in remote communities. The ILF is currently developing program and evaluation packs so that this program can reach even more communities and children.
3. The Community Literacy Projects see Australian authors and ILF ambassadors team up with major publishers and students from remote communities to write and publish books in English and First languages. In 2017 the ILF wants to expand that program to more communities and to include publishing across a greater age range. The latest book form the program is The Goanna was Hungry.
The ILF cannot continue their valuable work without our support. Readings is donating 10% of all book sales from our shops today to the ILF, as well as all gift wrap donations made in September.
In addition, Readings is thrilled to be hosting a special fundraiser later this month, together with the Melbourne Athenaeum, the ILF and the University of Melbourne. Come along to hear veteran journalist and Wiradjuri man Stan Grant in conversation with Booker Prize-winning author Richard Flanagan on Tuesday 27 September. All proceeds from the night will go the ILF. You can find out more, and book tickets, here.
In previous years, the Readings community has donated $15,000 to the ILF and I hope to see this amount grow in 2016. If every person reading this gave $10 that would go a long way funding the expansion of the ILF’s wonderful programs – together we can make a real difference to lives of many children. All donations over $2 to the ILF are fully tax deductible. So please make that small click to make a difference!
