Aboriginal adults who struggle with reading and writing will soon be given a helping hand, when the Literacy for Life Foundation launches the Aboriginal Adult Literacy Campaign in Collarenebri.
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The literacy campaign is all about local Aboriginal people helping and teaching their fellow community members to learn how to read and write.
“We call it a 'campaign' instead of a 'program' because it's all about community involvement and mobilisation,” Collarenebri campaign project officer Lia Weitzel said.
“We are campaigning for positive and lasting change in these communities.
“Our slogan is ‘Literacy: Everyone's right, everyone's business!’. By that, we mean that low literacy is the problem of people with high literacy, we all need to work together to help people who need it.”
Run by the Literacy For Life Foundation, the Aboriginal Adult Literacy Campaign, is targeted at Aboriginal adults, aged 15 years and older, living in Collarenebri who struggle with reading and writing.
“In our experience of the communities we've worked in in North West NSW, upwards of 50 per cent of Aboriginal adults face problems with literacy every day, so this campaign is here to help them,” Ms Weitzel said.
The course runs for six months, with three months of literacy classes, followed by three months of post-literacy, which involves planning activities that allow the participants to practise their new literacy skills in real life situations.
“These activities vary widely and include things like meeting with the Aboriginal Housing Office to discuss how to properly fill out housing applications, writing stories, learning how to read to kids, enrolling in TAFE and excursions to nearby towns,” Ms Weitzel said.
“It's a really fun course and there will be a lot of laughs! The entire course is free, with all stationery, books and lunch supplied.”
Graduates can expect to get their driver license, find better work, read their own mail, manage their own bills, learn to use a computer and the internet, and help their children and grandchildren with homework.
“In a nutshell, participants will gain confidence and self-esteem, as well as the ability to lead an independent life,” Ms Weitzel said.
To launch the campaign, there will be a barbecue brunch at 10am on Thursday, January 31 at the Red Shed in Collarenebri. Community members and workers can enjoy a feed, while yarning to some of the graduates from the recent Walgett campaign.
The event is free and all are invited.
On Wednesday, February 6 there’ll be a Movie Morning at 10am at the Colly Club.
“We'll be showing In My Own Words, which is a wonderful and moving film about the campaign in Brewarrina,” Ms Weitzel said.
“It's a chance for people to see what the classroom will be like and to understand a bit more about what the campaign can do for their community. We'll supply morning tea.”
Since its first iteration in Wilcannia in 20012, the Aboriginal Adult Literacy Campaign has been in Engonnia, Bourke, Brewarrina, Weilmoringle, Boggabilla, Toomelah and Walgett. This year, it will be run in Collarenebri, Santa Teresa (in the NT) and Campbelltown (in Sydney).
If people have more questions or would like to register for the course, please them call Katy on 0455 909 162 or email katy.jasper@lflf.org.au, or visit the website at www.lflf.org.au.
