Hi and hello everybody,
My name is Dwayne and I live in Yarrabah, which is south-east of Cairns.
I first started this program with Literacy for Life Foundation as a student in 2021.
At the end of that year, they asked me to come on board as a classroom facilitator, and I agreed.
From there on, I’ve never looked back and everything is looking pretty good for me at the moment.
That’s me standing in the photo above, helping our literacy student Thomas.
Our work is possible thanks to donations from supporters like you.
The main thing I like about teaching is seeing all the students ready to learn every day.
We even have a couple of students who graduated but want to come back for more learning because they are not up to the standard where they want to be – they want the program to run longer!
Here’s one of our most recent classes on Graduation Day. (There’s another Graduation coming up soon, on July 4)
Our aim is to help our mob with their literacy so they can achieve their goals.
Not in my wildest dreams did I think I would be in a classroom teaching some of my elders.
For me personally, I have enjoyed teaching them and seeing their faces light up when they graduate.
The photo below is me dancing at one of our graduation ceremonies.
I’d like to say a VERY BIG THANK YOU to all the supporters, staff and students that have input into the Campaign. Thank you for your support over the past couple of years.
I hope the program runs for many more years to come and hopefully I will still be here, getting to dance at many more graduation ceremonies.
Every Aboriginal community in Australia needs this Literacy For Life Foundation Campaign.
We need to let the program run wild, like a wildfire around Australia, so all adults have a chance to reach their dreams!
Thank you.
Dwayne
Dwayne took part in literacy classes as a student before joining the local team as a teacher/facilitator. Thanks to our supporters, more than 80 adult students in Yarrabah have now improved their reading and writing. Nationally, more than 700 students have participated.
Please consider making a donation before June 30 to help lift literacy.
All photos courtesy Leanne Hardy.