Letter writing campaign to children stuck on Nauru offers glimmer of hope
AUSTRALIAN children have been putting pen to paper in a series of letters of hope for kids marooned on the tiny island of Nauru.
TRAPPED on an island the size of Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport, 120 children wait for their new life to start.
Most are bored senseless, but for others it’s much worse. They are resigned to the fact that they won’t leave and have given up hope.
A 12-year-old boy has stopped eating and can’t stand. Doctors say he’s being given fluids to keep him alive.
The solution, refugee advocates say, is to bring them here. In the meantime, Australian children are doing what they can to make the wait a little more bearable.
They’re writing letters. Like this one, from 13-year-old Skyla.
Or this one, from 12-year-old Hannah, that tells them to “have hope”.
The letters are part of a campaign started by Befriend a Child in Detention, an organisation spearheaded by children’s book author Dr June Factor.
Dr Factor says the project started small but has been embraced by children around the country. It’s a way, she says, of making sure everyone has a friend.
“You can’t go through life without one,” she told news.com.au. “That’s what we do.”
Since 2014, letters have made their way to the immigration detention centre. They’re accompanied by toys and books and crafts.
For years, the organisation has made children its focus, but this week it was joined by dozens of Australian human rights groups to make children on Nauru a number one priority.
A coalition of NGOs, including World Vision, Save the Children and Amnesty International, demanded the Federal Government remove all children from the island by November 20.
“We are calling for common sense, for courage, for compassion and for leadership from our political leaders to resolve this situation,” World Vision Australia’s chief executive Claire Rogers said.
“This harmful, secretive and dysfunctional system of detention must end.”
The message was accompanied by pictures of young children who have been born on Nauru or forced into limbo on the isolated, tiny island nation in Micronesia.
Dr Factor says letters help those children understand they’re not alone. In four years, her organisation has only had to hold back one group of letters.
“They came from young children at a school and they’d been dictated by a teacher,” she said.
“The first line was ‘Welcome to Australia’. How do you send that to children who are marooned in terrible living conditions with no hope?”
Most letters are simple. They start with Aussie kids talking about a way of life that they hope to share.
“Last week I visited Madam Tusords (sic) in the city of Sydney, it is a great place, I hope you can visit,” 12-year-old Liora wrote.
“Australia is a beautiful country with a wonderful background. The people here are very kind and welcoming.”
Another letter describes all the “fun places” in Australia.
“There’s beaches, pools, theme parks and many more,” 11-year-old Chanel wrote.
“My favourite place in Australia is Bondi Beach. It’s a beach I live near. I swim there and play and sometimes get some delicious ice cream. I hope you have a great time in Australia.”
Dr Factor said it was time Australia acknowledged and made amends for the long-lasting effects its offshore detention policy is having on children there.
“These cold-hearted and rigid politicians don’t seem to realise they are engaging in child abuse. They are damaging these children who have not got the resilience of adults.”
The ABC reported last week that a 12-year-old Iranian boy on Nauru had been on a hunger strike.
“He’s severely depressed,” Dr Barri Phatarfod said.
“I don’t really want to say much more about his personal medical condition but it’s pretty obvious that when you’ve got a child that refuses to eat or drink for up to two weeks they are profoundly depressed.”
Dr Factor hopes Australians continue to support those children in need. She said little things — “books, toys, nothing too large” — can be donated, but the organisation does not send items that are second-hand.
Tax deductible donations can be made by direct deposit, too.
Children wanting to send letters can do so. PO BOX 1282, Carlton, VIC 3053. For more information, visit the group’s Facebook page.
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