The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) is the 2024 recipient of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) for children’s literature
– a global award given annually to a person or organisation for their outstanding contribution to children’s and young adult literature.
With a prize of five million Swedish kronor (AUD $725,000) it is the largest award of its kind in the world.
The ILF has been shortlisted for a number of years in a row, but was not expecting this incredible win.
The announcement was made in a live program from Stockholm and at the Bologna Children's Book Fair on Tuesday 9 April. The winner was announced from 245 candidates from 68 countries and regions.
The funds will be used to support the ongoing ambition of the ILF to support Community literacy aspiration through publishing and providing culturally relevant books and resources.
The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award is an international children’s literature award, established by the Swedish government in 2002 in honour of the Swedish children’s books writer Astrid Lindgren (the creator of Pippi Longstocking).
The Award may be awarded to writers, illustrators, narrators, and/or promoters of reading whose work reflects the spirit of Astrid Lindgren. The object of the award is to increase interest in children’s and young people’s literature, and to promote children’s rights to culture on a global level. The award is administered by the Swedish Arts Council.
ILF CEO, Ben Bowen was surprised and extremely grateful when he received the call from Stockholm.
Click here to watch the phone call from Boel Westin, Chair of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award jury to ILF CEO Ben Bowen.
ILF Co‑Chair Natalie Ahmat, ILF Founder Suzy Wilson, and ILF CEO Ben Bowen travelled to Sweden to accept the Award from HRH Crown Princess Victoria in Stockholm, Sweden. This award acknowledges the entire catalogue of work of the ILF and the special relationships that have enabled the ILF to publish Community stories, and provide books and literacy resources to remote parts of this country.
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award / Elliot Elliot
ILF Co-Chair Natalie Ahmat, ILF CEO Ben Bowen, ILF Founder Suzy Wilson and HRH Crown Princess Victoria.
Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award / Elliot Elliot
The unexpected prize money for the award will go an extremely long way for the Communities that the ILF works with.
The ILF does not take any government funding, which allows us to work dynamically and sustainably with Communities. However, it does mean we rely on the generosity of our partners and donors.
Therefore, this money will not necessarily change the direction of our programs, but will enable the organisation to sustainably invest in remote Communities and continue to build deep relationships well into the future.
As a Community‑led organisation, the funds will be used to support Community literacy aspiration for language, Community and culture through publishing and providing culturally relevant books and resources.
“The picture shows the three spheres found in Sami myth and legend: the upper world, the middle world where we live and move, and the underworld.
The yellow bands evoke the shape of a Sami drum. The people sitting at the top of the picture have shadows underneath them. The blue represents water.
In traditional Sami stories, it was important to have respect for the natural world and the beings who dwelt there. The water spirit, for example, could pull down children who went too close and stumbled in.
In dreams we can journey deep into the world of myth. The people sleeping near the bottom of the picture are dreaming of forests, water, sky.
To the left we see a Sami tent floor, which is made from twigs.”
“With curiosity and respect, Indigenous Literacy Foundation works with reading and storytelling among First Nations children in Australia. In close collaboration with Communities, they highlight the value of all people’s own languages and stories. By spreading books and stimulating reading, storytelling and creativity, Indigenous Literacy Foundation builds the desire to read and fosters pride, self‑confidence and a sense of belonging. Every child has the right to their language and their stories.”
– ALMA Jury
“Thank you to the ALMA Jury, we are deeply honoured to receive this award. The achievement of being shortlisted let alone being the winner of such a globally prestigious award speaks directly to the nature of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) being a Community‑led organisation entrusted to support remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community literacy aspirations. Throughout the lifetime of the ILF, we have had the privilege of being invited into Community and entrusted to support their aspirations through providing culturally relevant books and literacy resources and publishing their stories in the language they choose.
“This is not possible without the support of our donors, supporters, volunteers, Ambassadors and Community partners that enable an organisation of around 30 staff to support literacy in over 400 remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.
This award is a direct acknowledgement to Communities we partner with, corporate partners and supporters, donors, Ambassadors, our Board and volunteers that have all played a critical role in building the ILF. Thank you and congratulations.”
‑ ILF CEO, Ben Bowen
“This award could not have come about without the extraordinary work of many of Australia’s remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities, who trust the ILF with the stories they choose to tell, told in multiple languages and illustrated in Community.
“It would also never have come about without the generosity of the many, many thousands of Australians who have contributed to the ILF over the years. I am thinking of the many ‘ordinary’ people who make small monthly donations, or organise fundraising events in their community groups or workplaces. I am thinking of the many, many people within my own industry – the book industry – who collect over the counter donations in bookshops, hold Great Book Swaps or bake sales, attend our Trivia nights, collaborate on our projects, and assist in so many other ways. This award reflects the work of a great many people, who should all feel proud today.”
‑ ILF Head of Publishing, Nicola Robinson
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation works as an initiative of the Australian Book Industry with the support of:
The
Indigenous Literacy Foundation is registered with the ACNC and is a Public Benevolent Institution with DGR1 and TCC status.
ABN 45146631843.
Copyright © 2024 Indigenous Literacy Foundation · Privacy & Security Statement
