The group of mainly Noongar teenagers and young adults are working through the final drafts and illustrations for two books for children and teenagers that will be distributed throughout West Australian schools.
The books may be for a younger audience, but the authors haven’t shied away from tough subjects such as domestic violence, crime and sexual abuse.
One of the books many authors Nita Phoebe Jones says the books are for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children and teenagers.
“I’m sure they can learn something from it. If they get to read the book, and take notice of it properly, because I reckon that it will be a very good book for young kids out there that’s doing it hard and not focusing on their lives,” she says.
The children's book is about a country family's move to the city, and a young boy's life that spirals into trouble.
Co-author Latoya Wright says it will open the eyes of non-Aboriginal children who might not understand the lives of some of their Aboriginal peers.
“There’s a lot of white people that think: ‘they’re alcoholics, they’re druggies’ and stuff like that. They don’t want to get an education and it’s not that at all really. It's about the upbringing. A lot of us don't choose to go down the path that we do,” she says.
The teenage book tackles sexual abuse from a family member and the shame it brings, but the authors provide hope for the victim.
Mother-of-one Jasmine Corbett says writing the books was a collaborative process.
She’s hoping it will break down barriers.
“You don’t judge a book by its cover. Or judge someone by their skin. You get to know someone. They could be the best person you’ve ever met,” she says.
The book project is part of the HALO program - a mentor-driven initiative that teaches culture and builds self-esteem for the Aboriginal participants.
There’s also an educational component.
Many of the HALO members left school at an early age, and are in the criminal justice system, but they want to turn their lives around.
Latishia Kickett, one of the HALO leaders, says the book project has lifted the participants’ confidence.
“I think it was a lot of things bottling up about what they'd been through and putting it out onto paper and expressing themselves is just amazing,” she says.
“Some of the students who came and started, they were shy and wouldn’t talk and now they’re all getting into it. They’re all having their little input into the stories so it’s good.”
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