R2A – in partnership with Aboriginal Literacy Foundation

R2A, in partnership with the Rotary Club of West Footscray and Rotary District 9800 are supporting the Aboriginal Literacy Foundation (ALF) backpack program. The ALF backpack program provides backpacks filled with books, stationery and learning tools to disadvantaged Aboriginal children from remote communities. R2A and Rotary are funding the distribution of 1,500 backpacks containing approximately 9,000 educational books and resources to children in the Indigenous communities of Kowanyama and Pormpuraaw in Far North Queensland.

There is an enormous gap in the English literacy rates of indigenous and non-indigenous people in Australia. The gap is even wider for indigenous people living in remote and isolated communities. Benchmark testing of students has found that by year 7, less than one in five children living in very remote indigenous communities can read at the accepted minimum standard. The books will be provided to primary school children with the aim of encouraging the joy of reading and improving literacy levels at an early age when children are most receptive to learning.

We will be providing updates on the blog during the year of how the program is progressing and any other updates.