Laps for Literacy (100 Ks for Indigenous Kids)

This Australia Day, 2021, in acknowledgment of the great Australian qualities of compassion and fairness, I pledge to swim 100km over 100 days, to fundraise money for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. I have chosen swimming because, like “learning to read for the first time”, it feels pretty clumsy and requires lots of stamina. And, I have chosen the Indigenous Literacy Foundation because I firmly believe that improving access to quality, well-resourced education earlier in life, is the greatest return on investment we can implement to reduce social inequity for Indigenous Australians.

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation enriches the lives Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in many ways:

·      Providing books to schools and families in English, and in their first language. Promoting and protecting unique cultures.

·      Programmes that establish strong family “story time” routines and healthy reading habits well before primary school. Promoting social skills and familial bonds.

·       Publishing and Printing books written and illustrated by Indigenous children for fellow Indigenous Children. Encouraging art, creativity and literacy among young children.

·      The programmes are delivered by members of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Evidence demonstrates that programmes that embrace self-determination are more successful.

It is hard to overstate the importance that reading and literacy have in our ability to properly pursue lifelong learning and the abundant opportunities we often take for granted as Australians.

To leave the barriers of Indigenous education unaddressed is to leave our first Australians behind: To foster reading skills at the nascent stages of life is to foster a better, fairer and wiser Australia. One that represents all Australians.

Please donate via this page and tell you friends, family and workmates and help improve the lives of emerging generations.

https://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/