Just stepping into her teens, Australia’s youngest female author Ashleen Khela of Indian origin who alongwith her parents and siblings are currently on their annual visit to native Punjab, is doling out warmth in this biting cold to the underprivileged students of the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar District also known as Nawanshahr.
The finances she raised from the proceeds her two books – 17 Stories and Journey Through The Jersey-- has been used by Ashleen to donate laptops, cash amounts, meals and warm track suits to the school children of the locality. The child of millionaire parents Ashleen has been generating her own finances even to publish her works and the use the proceeds for philanthropic works.
The family visits India each year to stay connected with their Indian roots. Ashleen wrote her first book at age of 11 for which she became the youngest author in Australia earning her international laurels which was duly covered by The Pioneer in December 2023 and acknowledged by the Indian High Commission there.
According to her father Amarjit Khela, who accompanies her every morning to various schools informed that Ashleen spent Rs 3.5 Lakh rupees for benevolence to the kids and in addition to this she raised so far Australian $2,000 for Cancer Council of Australia, AUD $1,000 for Starlight Children Foundation and now aims to raise funds for The National Children’s Fund, New Delhi as well by donating some part of the proceeds of her books to Prime minister’s Relief Fund.
Some of the philanthropic act by this young girl includes Rs 10,000 and three laptops and her authored books to Government High School Kaulgath ( Balachaur) Dist SBS Nagar, Rs 10,000 and two laptops and books to Government Senior Secondary School Simble Mazara SBS Nagar, two laptops and books to High School Kaluwahar and many more schools in the district. Ashleen also donated warm track suits, laptop and her books to Government Elementary School Sajawalpur.
Her family informed that Ashleen aims to visit few more schools before she leaves the country after Lohri and donate more laptops and cash to the needy school children. “It makes me immense satisfied and connected to my roots and do something for the community where my parents originated from. I love my country Australia as I was born there but am equally proud to be of Indian origin,” said Ashleen who addressed several school assemblies in the last fortnight and motivated children to do their best in their chosen fields to serve the community through their passion or profession.
Within the last one week, since publishing her second book, so far, Ashleen has raised over $1,000 for UNICEF by selling her second book online. Her buyers come from Australia, USA, Canada, New Zealand, India and England, informed her parents.
“In India she has been honoured by Punjab University, various Arts and cultural Associations of Punjab and Blood Bank NGOs of SBS Nagar while back home in Australia she got laurels in the form of ‘Young Citizen of the year’ which will be presented to her in association with Australia Day on January 26, 2025 by the Hills Shire Council ( Local government),” mentioned an overjoyed Amarjit. As per family, the Second award will be presented to Ashleen by the NSW Government on March 6, 2025.
