LEND A HAND FOR LITERACY
Like many of you, I believe every single Australian child has the right to a first-class education – the basic right to read, write and count.
And I know we are not alone, particularly when you consider it was 50 years ago that the United Nations recognised this in its Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
It is well documented that an education breaks the cycle of poverty and provides personal, social and economic growth for individuals and communities across the globe. However, knowing and doing are two very different things.
Whilst we have many good educational facilities here in Australia, particularly in our major cities, Australians need to take heed. Our literacy ranking, according to the OECD, is slipping, with an increasing gap between the students at the top and bottom of the scale, and Indigenous Australians are vastly over-represented in the lowest literacy ranks.
Kim Kelly and Mary-Ruth Mendel have been working tirelessly to do something about this.
In 1999 they founded The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF) which is based on a shared passion for providing best-practice literacy programs to those in need. Together they committed to establishing a charity that could properly and equitably assist and educate people who needed help. And so the ALNF became the first national charity dedicated to raising language, literacy and numeracy standards across Australia.
Kim and Mary-Ruth believe single-mindedly that all Australians have the right to strong literacy skills, because being able to read and write is the key to accessing information, education and employment, thus participating fully in society.
I am proud to be an Ambassador for the ALNF and in that role, help to raise awareness of the foundation’s outstanding work.
As editor of The Australian Women’s Weekly from 1999 to 2008, I was privileged to have the opportunity to work with these two outstanding women and provide what support I could, to help bring this project to fruition.
Having spent much of my career in print, working as a journalist and editor, I understand the joy of reading and writing: gaining knowledge through books, magazines, and more recently online with great sites such as this one.
I also understand the impact poor literacy skills can have on a person’s emotional, social and financial wellbeing.
As a mother, I am committed to ensuring my child has the best possible education and opportunities to reach his full potential in life.
As a person fortunate enough to have had a good education and financially stable upbringing, I want to make sure that the best opportunities are available to all Australian children and families.
Learning to read and write is the vital first step to achieving this.
With only one in five children in remote indigenous communities able to read or write at the minimum standard, the Wall of Hands Indigenous Literacy Appeal (www.wallofhands.com.au) raises much-needed funds for the ALNF to deliver the literacy and numeracy programs necessary to change this unacceptable situation.
I encourage everyone to get behind ANLF and this great initiative. Without doubt, closing the indigenous literacy gap is a serious, long-term program that requires commitment and funds.
We can all make a difference to the lives of indigenous children by participating in this important campaign.
The Wall of Hands Indigenous Literacy Appeal, now in its fourth year, brings people to together to say, “We Care”. This year our goal is to raise $300,000 to support life-changing literacy programs for children in the remote communities of Tennant Creek, Mungkarta, Elliott and Ali-Curung. Please join me in saying “I Care”.
To get involved simply visit www.wallofhands.com.au. Raise your hand, donate and spread the word. Remember – many hands make literacy work! The 2012 Wall of Hands appeal will run until the end of September.
*Deborah Thomas is Director of Media, Public Affairs and Brand Development at ACP Magazines and an ALNF Ambassador.
7 Responses to this article
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Aeron Winters July 17, 2012
Literacy is so important. My daughter struggled with literacy for much of her school career. Luckily, I was able to help, being well educated myself. With a lot of patience, determination, a few tears and a concerted effort, my daughter was able to enter mainstream classes in year nine. Now, she is working toward her HSC and I expect she will succeed with a good result. She wants to be a teacher, and her understanding of the difficulties faced by those with learning problems will make her a terrific one.
I cannot imagine how difficult it must be for indigenous families in remote areas. I imagine that the parents are often poorly educated themselves making it difficult for them to help their children. I think that ANLF is doing something wonderful that can only mean a brighter future for all concerned.
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Norelle July 17, 2012
Maybe take a look at this, Jenny, it might help you decide
https://alnf.org/Pages/success-stories
You also might like to remember the story of the ‘ugly’ duckling – it is important because it reminds us that if you are raised in a community regardless of your appearance (which of course is not ugly but just different) you are a member of that community – you think like them, you suffer their disadvantage and you experience life as they do. In fact it is tougher for some of them than others. Someone might correct me on this but I think the gene for skin colour is not very strong and so despite having darker skinned parent/grandparents it is one of the first characteristics to be lost.
I donated as literacy is the key to fulfilment and employment in our kind of society. -
Di July 17, 2012
Indigenous Literacy is a huge issue for adults as well as kids. We have an Indigenous gallery and many elderly artists are only able to sign their names with a cross. Those in their 30s and 40s who have slipped through the cracks and haven’t received educational support to learn to read and write, find they are not employed although they would very much like a job. Communities need people to help with these adults too, to gain literacy skills. Imagine not being able to read the label on your prescription medication, or a bus timetable to keep a medical appointment. There are publishers who are printing books such as the
Very Hungry Caterpillar in traditional Aboriginal languages too so kids can enjoy reading in their own regional language that they readily understand. It is a huge issue Australia, give generously. -
B.H. July 17, 2012
Wow Jenny, that is one of the most racist offensive comments I have ever read here on The Hoopla. My husband is Aboriginal. So my daughter is too. And she is one of those ‘fair skinned, blue eyed’ Aboriginals you speak of. You cannot gauge someone’s racial identification by the way they look. My daughter is a proud Aboriginal and your comment is simply racist and offensive.
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Rhoda July 23, 2012
I was helping out at a country school once and a teacher there was telling us of his experiences at an Aboriginal community where he taught grade 3 I think. What he saw and heard happening there was horrific. He reported one terrible event that a child revealed to him but was ignored. Everyone turned a blind eye. They offered this child no help. His abusers weren’t punished. It doesn’t take much imagination to put two and two together and see he’s not the only one. Who is standing up for these children? Why do we expect them to sit in front of a blackboard and learn the alphabet when they have all this going on in their lives.
They need our help – I’ve never doubted it – but it will not be enough.
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Enopa Lindsay July 26, 2012
I am a Research Scientist working with one of the agricultural research institute in Papua New Guinea. My education started off at a rural remote school with limited or no proper learning materials such as textbooks, books, journals.
With the thought of reading as one of the best means of student early learning I started an initiative in 2010 to purchase and award Dux students of grades 7 & 8 in my ex-primary school. My aim is to introduce and encourage students into reading and broaden their understanding at that level for better learning as they climb the ladder.
The staff and students from the school were really impressed with the initiative and I see it doing good.
However, my real drawback is the lack of adequate supply of relevant materials to continue the practice and also to be placed in the school library for staff and student use.
My kind request is should your organization provide such services then I my request should be considered.I have limited access to such materials but your help will be very vital for rural remote primary school students in a developing country.
Thank you
Enopa Lindsay
Research Scientist
P.O Box 120
MT HAGEN
Western Highlands Province
Papua New guinea
