wfn.org | Literacy Program for Australian Aborigines

[APD <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

May 24, 2002
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

Australian Literacy Program Helps Preserve Indigenous 
Identity

 
Jigalong, Western Australia - Australian Aborigines are 
teaching others in their community to read and write as 
part of a program established by the Adventist 
Development and Relief Agency in the remote 
community of Jigalong, Western Australia.
 
Consultant Trevor Lloyd bases the adult literacy 
program on learning pairs. "We match literate 
mentors-of whom half are young women-with non-
literate students, some of whom are older men."
 
Mentors and students study one-to-one "because it can 
be embarrassing for adults to learn about literacy
while in group settings," says Lloyd. He adds he is 
pleased but not surprised that older men are joining.
"They value their heritage and are keen to preserve it in 
writing."
 
"ADRA is committed to helping Jigalong--which has its 
own council and has declared itself
alcohol-free--become more self-sufficient," says ADRA 
Australia's national program director Gary Christian.
"The training gives parents the confidence to model 
reading and writing skills to their children."
 
Lloyd says the initiative is creating awareness in the 
community of the value of education. He tells of an
older Martu man sitting with a friend under the shade of 
a tree. "He looked up as I passed and said, simply,
'Go school?'"
 
Plans are to offer the program--in terms of experience 
and resources--to other communities in Australia.
 
ADRA helps more than 19 million people in 120 
countries each year. It receives accreditation from the
Australian Agency for International Development and 
the Australia Council for Overseas Aid. [Editor:
Christian B. Schaeffler for APD]