Imagine every primary school student across Australia learning and performing an Indigenous song for a cause that supports literacy in remote communities.
This is the vision of Busking for Change 2024, a musical fundraiser by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
Created by ARIA award-winner and ILF ambassador Josh Pyke, the initiative invites primary schools nationwide to participate by learning and performing a song in a First Nations language, raising vital funds to help Indigenous communities access and create books in their native languages.
The 2024 song Shordi Krik was written in English and Kriol by the students of Barunga Remote Community School in the Northern Territory in collaboration with ILF ambassador Justine Clarke.
“I have a long relationship with the Barunga community and have been singing songs with them every year at the Barunga Festival,” Ms Clarke said.
She said the song was based on a poem the students had written from their own experiences at a local swimming hole they called Shordi Krik.
“We would love everyone in Australia singing Shordi Krik,” she said.
“For the students, parents and elders in Barunga, it will give them an enormous sense of pride knowing people are behind them and trying to sing in one of their languages.
“This song is really easy to learn, it’s really fun. You can play it on the ukulele and guitar there are backing tracks and the ILF offer all kinds of learning support.
“Every time you sing the song, you’re connecting directly with kids in remote communities and you’ll be an ambassador for the ILF.”
Busking for Change 2023 saw 84 schools participating and raising more than $81,000.
For 2024, the goal is even more ambitious, with a target of 115 schools and $110,000 in donations.
These funds will support the ILF’s Community Publishing program, which empowers communities to write and illustrate their stories in their native languages.
Proud Jingili, Mudburra, and Mangarrayi woman Cindy Manfong, the ILF publishing projects editor, is also a former student of Barunga Remote Community School.
She said the ILF played an integral role in ensuring that remote communities have the resources to share their rich cultural narratives with the world, fostering a sense of pride and preserving their unique languages for future generations.
“I didn’t really see books in Kriol or in any Indigenous languages growing up,” Ms Manfong said.
“It wasn’t until I started working with the ILF that I started seeing more Indigenous language books.
“I think it would have definitely helped a lot with my identity, to see more of those books in Kriol.”
“I do love that we are doing Busking for Change and trying to get the schools behind us to learn this song.”
The fundraiser starts in week one of Term 3, culminating in performances on Indigenous Literacy Day, Wednesday 4 September.
Schools raising $50 or more will receive a Busking for Change book pack, featuring bilingual children’s books like Shordi Krik and Country Tells Us When.
Additional prizes will be awarded to the schools that raise the most funds, including special categories for small schools and a prize draw.
Register at buskingforchange.ilf.org.au