Blundstone Australia announces three year partnership with ILF

Blundstone Australia has committed to a three-year partnership with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) to continue to grow the support given to First Nations Communities around Australia in their literacy journey.

 

Literacy provides a fundamental step of building context, comprehension and understanding – written, visual and auditory. For children who miss this foundational step in their literacy journey, it can have a lifelong impact. 

 

Since its inception in 2011 the ILF has responded to requests for culturally relevant books, including early learning board books, quality resources, and programs to support Communities to create and publish their stories in languages of their choice, as well as supporting families and those living in remote communities across Australia.

 

With little or no infrastructure typically available in communities such as these, like libraries or  bookstores, or access to reading material to support literacy and educational achievement, there is a need for external support to ensure children meet their goals.

 

“The Indigenous Literacy Foundation is committed to supporting communities across Australia with the resources they need to thrive. As a heritage Australian brand, we’re also committed to being a positive and contributing member of the communities we work within,”  Blundstone Joint Chief Executive Officer, Adam Blake said.

 

“We’re incredibly proud to be supporting the great work of the ILF and look forward to furthering our commitment to future generations of First Nations people.”

 

ILF’s three programs, Book Supply, Book Buzz and Community Publishing Projects, have so far supported 325 communities with 92,000 books, published 40 books in 11 languages and supported 83 playgroups. As a non-government funded foundation, external support and partnerships are crucial to continue to provide remote Communities access to reading material.

 

“I am so pleased to be able to celebrate the agreement between Blundstone and Indigenous Literacy Foundation over the next three years,” Indigenous Literacy Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Ben Bowen said. 

 

“At the ILF it is critical for us to find and build collaborations with other organisations that reflect the same values and ethos. After my first meeting with the team at Blundstone it was clear that this would be a great collaboration.”

Learn more about the work of the Foundation here.