This was written by a child in a refugee camp. She is nine years old and does not speak because of physical and mental trauma. She is "unaccompanied" - meaning she has no family or friend to care for her. I have been working with one of the aid workers there to try and give her a means of communication so they can, if possible,find out just who she is.
Last week she was given a thick woollen pullover knitted by someone who knits for AKWAK (Aussies Knitting for War Affected Kids). This "thank you" note was the result. It is the first time she has tried to communicate anything without being directly asked.
She is using Blissymbols and she still does not have very many of them so she has tried to combine the symbols she does have to say what she wants to say. (This is really excellent as it suggests she is actually highly intelligent.)
The usual symbol for "home" is the outline of a building and a heart. Some of the children refer to the tents or shelters in which they live as their "tent-homes". She has combined tent and heart apparently to indicate the home of the animal which is a big jumper. It is likely that she has seen pictures of kangaroos and that someone has told her that the pullover comes from the home of the kangaroo.
We think that she is then trying to tell us that the pullover is hot now and will be warm in winter. (Like most of the children she refuses to take it off even in hot weather for fear of losing it.)
And, she cried when she was given it because she was happy.
I have no idea who knitted the garment but to all AKWAK knitters - thank you. You have absolutely no idea how much it means to me to see her trying to communicate like this and for such a purpose.
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