Key Points
- Ashleen Khela is one of Australia's youngest female published authors.
- The NSW government has commended her for self-funding her book publishing through innovative efforts such as recycling bottles and selling backyard plants.
- She also donated the proceeds from her book sales to support various charitable causes.
Ashleen, this year's recipient of the Young Citizen of the Year award, is currently working on her third book.
The Hills Shire Council announced the award for her stating that she was 'one of Australia's youngest-ever female published authors' who self-funded her book publishing through creative efforts like recycling bottles, selling backyard plants, and using her savings.
She was just 11 years old when she released her first book of fiction, 17 Stories.
Her first published book and her second one, Journey Through Her Jersey, are both drawn from her personal experiences.
Ashleen Khela has enjoyed writing since she was four. Credit: Amarjit Khela
Early love of writing
According to Ashleen's father, Amarjit Singh, her passion for writing was sparked when she was just four years old.
"I was writing in Punjabi, and one day, she found a book with my picture on it. She was so intrigued and, with childlike wonder, asked me if she could ever have her picture on a book like mine," Singh said.
Her parents, recognising her growing interest in words and letters, encouraged her to read books at a local library.
Ashleen Khela and her family live in New South Wales. Credit: Amarjit Khela
"We make it a priority to visit India each year to stay connected to our roots. I believe it's essential for building a strong bond with our culture and history."
Ashleen began writing her first book during the long COVID-19 lockdown after witnessing the struggles of underprivileged children in India.
"During (the) COVID (pandemic), when I had plenty of free time, I started writing but kept it a secret from my parents until I had finished 17 Stories," she said.
Ashleen takes a photo with a group of children in India. Credit: Amarjit Khela
"My heart melted seeing them. I just wanted to do something to help. So that day I decided to give bananas to them."
After distributing over 200 bananas, Ashleen felt compelled to do more and realised that writing could be her way of making a difference.
Ashleen Khela has published two books. Credit: Amarjit Khela
Raising funds
Ashleen said she decided to fund her book project independently, so she raised money by recycling bottles and cans and selling plants.
"I didn't use my parents' money to publish my book. I raised the funds by collecting recycling waste for nearly two years," she said.
Ashleen Khela sitting with a group of kids in India. Credit: Amarjit Khela
"All proceeds from my book benefit the Cancer Council of Australia, the Starlight Children’s Foundation, and underprivileged children globally. I also donated copies to over 180 libraries across Australia," she said.
Recently, Ashleen has been receiving praise for her visit to India, where she donated laptops, tracksuits, cash, and books to underprivileged children.
"My parents have played an important role in keeping my Indian roots alive and I now want to contribute more by writing more books," she said.
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