Key Points
- Ashleen Khela is one of Australia’s youngest female published authors.
- The NSW government has commended her for self-funding her book publishing through innovative efforts such as recycling bottles and selling backyard plants.
- She also donated the proceeds from her book sales to support various charitable causes.
Her first published book and her second one, Journey Through Her Jersey, are both drawn from her personal experiences.
Ashleen Khela has enjoyed writing since she was four. Credit: Amarjit Khela
Her first book focused on social injustice, particularly the struggles faced by underprivileged children living in slums in India, while her second book addressed women’s empowerment, aiming to raise awareness about gender inequality.
Early love of writing
Her parents, recognising her growing interest in words and letters, encouraged her to read books at a local library.
Ashleen Khela and her family live in New South Wales. Credit: Amarjit Khela
“We live in (an extended) family here, and me, my father and brother love to read books. This is what she grew up seeing, so it naturally became a habit for her,” he added.
“We make it a priority to visit India each year to stay connected to our roots. I believe it’s essential for building a strong bond with our culture and history.”
“During (the) COVID (pandemic), when I had plenty of free time, I started writing but kept it a secret from my parents until I had finished 17 Stories,” she said.
Ashleen takes a photo with a group of children in India. Credit: Amarjit Khela
“But it all began with an incident during a visit to Punjab with my family. I saw many underprivileged children living in slums of rural Punjab.
After distributing over 200 bananas, Ashleen felt compelled to do more and realised that writing could be her way of making a difference.
Ashleen Khela has published two books. Credit: Amarjit Khela
“I thought, maybe I can write a book to help them. It just struck me, and I knew exactly what I needed to do to make an impact,” she said.
Raising funds
“I didn’t use my parents’ money to publish my book. I raised the funds by collecting recycling waste for nearly two years,” she said.
Ashleen Khela sitting with a group of kids in India. Credit: Amarjit Khela
She also contributed to charity, with the proceeds from her book sales dedicated to supporting various charitable causes.
Recently, Ashleen has been receiving praise for her visit to India, where she donated laptops, tracksuits, cash, and books to underprivileged children.