Letters of kindness and knowledge: Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and Aboriginal young people share their ‘life-saving tips’ — Compiled by Dulwich Centre Foundation

Description

Contained in these pages are letters of kindness and knowledge shared between young Australians of different cultures and faith traditions (including non-believers). It seems a time in Australia when we could do with a dose of knowledgeable kindness. These young people’s words are being published at a time when Australia is again fighting a war in the Middle East. While here at home, public acts of hostility, abuse and violence against young Australian Muslim women are increasing; everyday racism against Aboriginal Australians remains widespread; and this year has also seen alarming acts of violence against Jewish Australians. Now more than ever, it seems significant to hear the perspectives of young people and to facilitate exchanges of kindness and knowledge. This project sought to create opportunities for young people enduring hardship to make contributions to one another by sharing their hard-won knowledge and stories of survival or endurance. At the same time, this process can contribute towards social cohesion or ‘social healing’. The letters included here have been shared between young Muslim Australians in Adelaide; young people living in a psychiatric in-patient unit in Sydney; young people in the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne; and students of Wadja Wadja High School from Woorabinda Aboriginal community.