45 children still remain in some form of detention on Nauru and on mainland Australia. What we have done to these children will haunt them for the remainder of their lives.
I am not one of those courageous few who devote their every day to changing those facts. People in organisations like Save the Children, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and others.
I work in early childhood, and I write. I’m incredibly privileged and fortunate in every area of my life. I have no idea if my writing can help, but I would like to make a small gesture – even if a gesture is all it will be.
Part of my good fortune is being asked to do the odd bit of writing on early childhood and being paid to do so. For the months of May and June, I commit to donating any fee I receive for a writing, editing or speaking commission to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre – the incredible organisation that advocates and works towards the freedom and wellbeing of asylum seekers in immigration detention, including children.
I did the same last year, and managed to send $1360 to ChilOut. I’d love to be able to beat that this year.
For those two months, anything I’m commissioned for will be going straight to them. I hope the nonsense I usually write can do a tiny bit of good.
So please, if you’re looking for a writer on early childhood in Australia, I’m available. You can obviously check out my writing on this blog, and I’d recommend looking at my Published Works page to get a better idea of my more professional writing.
Please share this with any networks you may have – I’d love to get bombarded with work! I’ll post the final amount at the end of June.
Please also consider donating yourself – to ASRC or another fantastic advocacy organisation. The only thing that can cure helplessness is taking action – even if you feel it may not contribute.
Thanks – Liam.
Liam McNicholas 