What better way to brighten up a Thursday than by announcing that the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation’s newest ambassador is award-winning Indigenous rapper and Young Australian of the Year – Danzal Baker AKA Baker Boy!
At only 23 years old, Danzal has already received ARIA Award nominations for his performances as a rapper and dancer. Danzal performs in both English and Yolngu Matha and is a powerful young voice emphasising the importance of representation and celebration of First Languages. Hailing from Arnhem Land, Danzal continues to be active as a role model for Indigenous communities and encourages young people to embrace their cultures, languages and leadership roles.
Danzal’s passion for literacy in First Languages is in perfect step with the mission of ALNF, making his ambassadorship a natural fit! In his new role, Danzal will work alongside the team to drive awareness in raising language, literacy and numeracy standards in Australia through targeted and community driven programs.
One key program is the ‘Living First Language Platform’ (LFLP) – a highly accessible, cross-platform multi-media app that preserves and revitalises Indigenous First Languages, empowering speakers with best-practice literacy tools to learn to read, write and teach in their mother tongue.
Danzal said, “I am honoured to be an Ambassador for the ALNF, an organisation that really understands the importance of First Languages and strives to educate within them.”
The LFLP won SXSW Innovation Awards in Texas earlier this year in the category of category of ‘Innovation in Connecting People’, and again in September for MIT Solve Challenge for ‘Early Childhood Development’ in New York.
In his first act as Ambassador, Danzal performed a ‘Gathering Ground’ concert at Gillen Public school yesterday in Alice Springs – a school that has seen substantial improvements in student’s literacy since establishing a relationship with ALNF in 2017. To celebrate the amazing achievements of both the students and the educators, ALNF decided that there could be no better place to announce Danzal’s new role as Ambassador.
The whole team at ALNF is thrilled to welcome Danzal on board as the foundation’s newest Ambassador, and is excited to see the amazing achievements that this newfound partnership will bring to communities right across Australia.
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