Thanks to our supporters, lives are being transformed through the power of literacy.
When May Welsh graduated in Coonamble, no one was prouder than her daughters, Debbie and Sonja.
Not only was May brave enough to come back to the classroom in her 70s, she also stood up in front of her whole community and delivered the Welcome to Country.
"I was that proud of mum when she done that because she’s not normally the person who will get up and do speeches in front of people,” Debbie said.
May (right) and Shanikqwa celebrate NAIDOC week.
Returning to education as an adult is not easy.
“I’d only done one or two weeks in Year 7 because I had to go out to work,” May reflects.
“I was either cleaning houses or washing or babysitting.”
May didn't just learn to read and write. She also learned how to use a laptop her grandson Brayden got for her, and has started writing letters to her nephew.
“Literacy actually does change what I do day-to-day,” May says. “It taught me a lot. It taught me to spell and read a bit more too. That was my main motivation.”
This is possible thanks to our supporters.
Her daughter Sonja told us that at the Aboriginal Land Council in Coonamble, "they could not believe the difference in May - the transformation. When they need her details, she says, ‘I’ll just write it out for you,’ and she just takes the paper right out of their hand!"
"Her confidence is a huge thing, and also she’s now able to get on the phone or on the laptop by herself. She’s not afraid to have a go now."
May (second from left) celebrates her graduation with her daughters.
Students like May prove it’s never too late.
When an adult learns to read and write, it doesn't just change one life, it transforms an entire family and creates a ripple effect across generations.
And when the younger ones see their Elders coming back to learn, they understand how important it is.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support more First Nations students learning to read and write this Indigenous Literacy Day.