INDIGENOUS kids living in remote communities might be far away, but helping them to read better is a cause close to Redlands woman Dale Jackson’s heart.
Ms Jackson has raised more than $3000 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation in the past nine months, with her latest effort helped by her Brisbane and Ipswich-based Department of Human Services colleagues.
Mary Poppins, the Madder Hatter and Little Red Riding Hood were some of the characters who appeared at Ms Jackson’s book swap earlier this month.
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Old books were exchanged for gold coin donations and raffle tickets sold to raise $700 for the foundation on Indigenous Literacy Day, September 5.
Ms Jackson said she was delighted by the response.
“Reading is so important,” she said.
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation, set up in 2011, has delivered about 260,00 books to 250 remote communities.
About 80 books, written by children and elders, have also been published, with more than half written in first languages.
The foundation also runs an early years literacy program, called Book Buzz, to help young children become interested in reading.
Boosting literacy rates in remote Indigenous communities is the foundation’s core aim.
A statement on the foundation’s website reads: “Our purpose is to make a difference to the lives of Indigenous families by not only gifting thousands of new culturally appropriate books – with a focus on early literacy and first language - but also by running programs to inspire the communities to tell and publish their own stories.”
For more information about the Indigenous Literacy Foundation or to support, visit here.