ILF launches Busking For Change initiative nationally

After a successful pilot program in 2022, the Indigenous Literacy Foundation is launching its Busking For Change fundraising initiative nationally, with primary schools across the country invited to be Busking For Change change-makers.

The charity event was initiated by five-time ARIA award-winner and ILF Lifetime Ambassador Josh Pyke in 2009, and subsequently raised over $50,000. As a national initiative it asks students to commit to learn to sing, play an instrument or dance to a given song—in 2023 the song is Words Make The World Go Around, a single created through collaboration between ILF Ambassadors Josh Pyke, Justine Clarke, Deborah Cheetham and students from the Gawura School, St Andrews Cathedral School, in Sydney—and seek donations from family and friends.

The 2023 initiative is supported by First Nations musicians Jeremy Marou, DOBBY, Tilly Tjala Thomas and Aodhan, and a new website provides schools with the charts, lyrics, instructional videos and support, with Busking For Change students encouraged to learn the entire song or just the chorus in Kriol.

‘I always thought it could be more than just a pub gig,’ said Pyke. ‘Music is a joyful celebration individually or as a group. Busking For Change shares this celebration along with raising funds for the ILF to support more kids in remote Communities to access and write and illustrate their own stories or songs in the languages they speak at home. Busking For Change, sums it up!’

‘It expands the literacy lens to include music, singing and movement,’ said ILF CEO Ben Bowen of the initiative. ‘And learning this catchy song in an Aboriginal language ties in with a goal of UNESCO’s Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032), to promote First Nations languages. The money raised helps us to support remote Communities to access and create books in languages they chose. It’s a win-win.’

For more information see the Busking for Change website here.

Category: Local news