What does home mean to you?
That is the question 28 students from Ḏawurr Boarding House explore in their new book, Sweet Home: Stories of Country and family.
“Home is where the heart is. But home is two things for the kids. It’s home and then it’s home away from home,” said Stuart Martin, a Rembarranga man from Bulman who has worked with the students at Ḏawurr Boarding for four years.
Ḏawurr is the Yolŋu word for honeybee - given to the boarding house by Rirratjingu Elder Witiyana Marika.
He told the story of the mother bee who works and helps the small offspring from the hive when they go out into the world, teaching them wisdom and knowledge.
The book, published by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF), was conceived as part of a literacy program at Ḏawurr.
The heartfelt stories in Sweet Home are told by students from 13 diverse communities across the Northern Territory.
English teacher Oliver Friedmann said the students spent many afternoons coming up with ideas for the book with word 'home' in mind.
"They thought deeply about the meaning of the word and carefully planned a story inspired by their reflections," he said.
“We hope that readers read each student’s story slowly and listen to their words deeply. All of them have important things to say. We hope that these stories help readers understand a bit more what home looks like for young people in the remote Northern Territory.”
Cindy Manfong, ILF Publishing Projects Editor and proud Jingili, Mudburra and Mangarrayi woman who grew up in Katherine (NT) on Jawoyn Country said as a young Aboriginal woman born and raised in the Northern Territory who moved to the big city for work she felt a connection to every story in the book.
"I hope this book will help the young ones be proud of where they come from, and to never forget their own stories, because home and family will always be where the heart is, no matter where you are in this Country," she said.
In the new book, 28 students from Ḏawurr Boarding House share heartfelt stories about what home means to them. Source: Supplied / Indigenous Literacy Foundation
13-year-old contributor Niyana Roberts-Long said, “I would like the Prime Minister [to read the book], and my family and also the kids from my homelands.”
While 13-year-old Glenda Forbes said there's one special person she looks forward to reading the book.
"The person that I most want to read the book is my grandad. I think that he will feel proud.”
'Sweet Home: Stories of Country and family' is available at to purchase on the
