Indigenous Literacy Day

Wednesday September 2, 2009

Today is Indigenous Literacy Day, which I only discovered from a bookstore newsletter – sadly it doesn't get much coverage in the mainstream press. The Indigenous Literacy Project (ILP) is a partnership between the Australian Book Industry and The Fred Hollows Foundation that raises funds to purchase and supply books and other culturally appropriate material to remote communities where the foundation works. Events will be held today in schools, bookshops and libraries around Australia with ILP ambassadors David Malouf, Tara June Winch, Kaz Cooke, Sally Morgan, May O’Brien, Dr Anita Heiss, Andy Griffiths, Sam Wagan Watson, Josh Pyke and many other wonderful authors, along with ILP Patron Therese Rein.

I am so grateful that I was able to learn to read when I was so young (some of my happiest memories are of reading with a torch under the covers after lights out), and had the privilege of the education I received, which has empowered me to create the life I wanted. Sometimes we take for granted the blessing of what we have learned, yet in many countries – including our own – there are people who aren't fortunate enough to have access to basic education, and will never know the pure joy of escaping into a book, or have the foundation to pursue the career and make the living they want to.

You can make a donation to the Indigenous Literacy Project through their website www.worldwithoutbooks.org. You can also support the Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation, a wonderful charity that organises programs dedicated to raising language, literacy and numeracy standards in Australia. They not only distribute books where they're needed, but also develop, teach and train others in sound methods of teaching and supply appropriate services to those in need. Their website is www.alnf.org, and they gratefully accept books as well as donations that will help them carry out their valuable work. They have created libraries in the Northern Territory and Elcho Island, and are developing literacy programs across the nation. If you can spare a few dollars, or have any books you no longer need, check them out...

And I'll donate 10 per cent of any book sales made this week through this site,
so if you've been waiting to buy it, now's a good time :-)

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Seven Sacred Sites and A Magical Journey are available from bookstores across Australia, distributed by Brumby Books, and through this website.

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