Online Fundraising

Help me inspire Indigenous Youth into pathways of hope in Remote Australia

I am Rachel Baker, a Yolngu Woman from Galiwin’ku in the remote north of Australia’s Northern Territory. I recently graduated from the Indigenous Marathon Project (IMP) and founded the fashion label Elcho Clothing.

We are losing too many of our precious young people to suicide in remote Aboriginal Communities. Our Youth are suiciding at alarming rates in the Northern Territory, more than anywhere else in Australia. We cannot ignore the fact that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are twice as likely to suicide than non-Indigenous Australians. Here in the Northern Territory, we grieve over the loss of one family member to suicide every week.

Let’s get passionate about suicide awareness and prevention. Let’s act now to turn back this increasing trend of young people taking their own lives.

I strongly believe we can assist the young people of our communities with their mental health and wellbeing. By re-connecting them to their cultural roots and motivating them to actively practice and promote the traditions of their own clan group in ways that they can get excited about.

Let your heart beat with mine for the precious lives of our youth and get motivated to help fund action in this cause.

ANY DONATION, BIG OR SMALL, WOULD BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.  DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE

How will funds be used?

All funds raised will be collected by IMF for Dalgarra Djerrikay Clan Leaders & Elders (for all clan groups) who will be responsible for delivering cultural education and programs to support the reconnection of youth with their Elders, Clan Leaders and culture.

The delivery of educational programs will involve teachings about - family tree, ceremonies, women's business, traditional dance, tribal education, Yolngu medicines and foods, hunting and gathering, language, respect, culture, passing on of knowlege of Tribe, history, kinship, Yolngu trading, Yolngu way of life, songs, dreamings, artworks, connections of land sea and the waters.

Raising awareness of positive mental health and well-being –

In addition to raising funds for programs to re-connect community Elders with the Youth, I also want to engage with the women in community, to help them build their self-confidence, self-esteem and empower them to be strong and resilient individuals within community.

On the 16-18 July I hosted a 2-day Resilience Workshop in the Milinginbi Community, for young girls and other members of the community.  This pilot program will aim to deliver workshops across Arnhem Land and eventually Australia-wide.

The 2-day program included talks and discussions with girls and women around resilience and mental health.  Sessions were delivered by qualified and experienced personnel, with an emphasis on providing awareness of resources and services available in community around mental health and suicide.

We also conducted special sessions on hair and makeup together with well-known model, Magnolia Maymuru and held a fashion parade, showcasing culture for all of the community.

A second program is being organised - 9-13 September 2019 in Gapuwiyak community.  This will be a 5 day program and will feature Miss World Contestant - Ebony Doyle.  

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WORKSHOPS HERE

The workshop will be conducted in partnership with the following organisations -

-Clan Leaders

-The East Arnhem Shire 

-MIWATJ local Mental Health Team

-Yarning Consultancy

-Elcho Clothing, and

-IMF 

Through these workshops I will share my IMP journey, the 6 month program with the Indigenous Marathon Foundation including the experiences and impact this program has had on my life.

The Indigenous Marathon Project, the flagship program of IMF, annually selects a squad of 12 young Indigenous Australians, aged 18-30, to train for the world’s most iconic running event, the New York City Marathon. By the time they cross the finish line, their lives have changed forever.

Since graduating from IMP, I have completed 5 marathons - 2015 - Tokyo & Melbourne, 2016 - Rio & Athens, 2017 - Berlin. In 2019, I will complete the Uluru Half Marathon and the TCS New York City Marathon.

This fundraising page was established and hosted by IMF on www.imf.org.au