(February 18, 2025) On Australia Day 2025, 12-year-old Ashleen Khela, who is one of the youngest authors in Australia, was honoured as the Hills ‘Young Citizen of the Year.’ The accolade was not just a recognition of her talent, rather it was a celebration of her commitment to social change, her drive to give back, and the inspiring story behind her mission. Last year, the youngster was also the finalist for the ‘Young Australian Sikh of the Year’ title.
Ashleen Khela
In 2023, when Ashleen published her debut book, 17 Stories, her dream of giving back turned into reality. She donated all proceeds to the Cancer Council of Australia, the Starlight Children’s Foundation, and other organisations supporting underprivileged children. Moreover, she donated copies of her book to several libraries across Australia, ensuring young readers could access her work for free.
A year later, she published her second book, Journey Through Her Jersey, which focuses on women empowerment and raises awareness about gender inequality. Through her writing, she hopes to inspire young readers to reflect on social justice and take action in their own ways. “The fulfilling feeling of giving back and contributing to society is unparalleled,” she tells Global Indian.
A life-changing moment in Punjab
Born in Australia in 2012, Ashleen grew up in a culturally rich household, where her parents, who moved to Australia in 1998, ensured she stayed connected to her roots. Almost every December, her family travelled to Punjab, for the holidays. One such trip in 2019 proved to be a turning point for Ashleen. She was just seven then.
Ashleen Khela during a campaign at one of Punjab’s schools
While traveling to the Gurudwara Sahib in Anandpur, their car came to abrupt standstill owing to a flat tyre near a village. It was there that Ashleen first saw underprivileged children living in dire conditions along the roadside. “I did not feel good. I felt bad for them,” she recalls. She turned to her mother and grandmother for help and was told they were migrant labourers’ kids, living in unfortunate circumstances.
On her way back, as she stepped out of the car with bags filled with bananas, she was unprepared for what happened next. “I was literally shocked to see hundreds of them come out of their hovels like a sheep flock running towards us just to get a single banana.” That moment struck her deeply, revealing to her the harsh realities of poverty and inequality.
“I could not stop thinking about those kids,” she says. “I wanted to help them more, in a different and bigger manner but I did not know how.”
Writing for a cause
The answer came to her during the COVID-19 lockdown in Australia. With homeschooling giving her extra time, she began writing stories inspired by that poignant moment in Punjab. Her first story, Elisa and Josephine, was a direct reflection of the banana incident, aiming to raise awareness about social disparities. As she continued to write, her vision became clear: she wanted to publish a book to raise funds for those children and others in need.
Ashleen Kaur with Zoe Baker, North Sydney Council Mayor
However, there was a personal struggle along the way. During this period, her father developed blood clots in his lungs, which led to severe health complications. He was hospitalized and later diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, requiring treatment at a cancer research center in Sydney. Despite the emotional turmoil, Ashleen remained dedicated to her writing, determined to turn her stories into a force for good.
By the time she was nine, she had finished 17 Stories, a collection of multi-story fiction that not only entertained young readers but also imparted strong moral lessons. But she faced a new challenge – the funding for book’s publication.
A self-reliant journey
Instead of turning to her family for financial support, Ashleen took matters into her own hands. She started recycling bottles and cans through the NSW government’s ‘Return and Earn’ program, earning 10 cents per bottle or can. “I collected used glass and plastic bottles, as well as drink cans, at home and even encouraged staff at our motel in Sydney to avoid discarding them in landfill waste. To make recycling easier, I placed special bins in each room. Over two years, I took thousands of bottles and cans to NSW government recycling stations with my grandfather, earning money through the Return and Earn program,” Ashleen shares.
In addition, she started growing and selling plants such as mangoes, jacarandas, guavas, yuccas, frangipani, lemons, figs, crepe myrtle, and others in her backyard with the help of her grandfather. She sold them for $10 to $40 AUD.
Ashleen Khela
For over two years, she diligently saved money. “I stopped wasting money on toys or unnecessary things. I started to find ways to save by cutting down on things I didn’t need, knowing that the saved money could be donated to the needy,” the youngster says. She even encouraged her siblings and friends to adopt a similar mindset, promoting waste reduction and mindful consumption.
The biggest challenge, however, was patience. “I was looking at the pots every day to see if the seeds had sprouted or if the cuttings had shown any new leaves,” she recalls. Additionally, COVID-19 lockdowns meant fewer customers could pick up plants, but she persisted. Eventually, Ashleen saved enough to cover her publication costs, breaking open her years-old piggy bank to fund the rest.
Ashleen wrote her second book, Journey Through Her Jersey in 2024. “For it, I drew inspiration from my heartbroken, little sister Avleen who was shattered to pieces upon hearing she wasn’t allowed to participate in the cricket club at her school as it was a ‘boys only’ thing,” says the grade eight student
Family values and rooted in the Indian culture
Despite being born and raised in Australia, Ashleen feels a deep connection to Punjab. She speaks fluent Punjabi, understands Hindi, and is learning to write Punjabi. “I feel I belong to Punjab,” she says, crediting her frequent visits and strong cultural upbringing for her bond with India.
“I live in a joint family,” shares the resident of Hills Shire, an area in the Greater Sydney region in New South Wales, Australia. “I have a nine-year-old sister, a seven-year-old brother, my mum, dad, grandparents, my uncle, my aunty, and two cousins living with me.”
Ashleen Khela with her family
With 11 members spanning three generations under one roof, Ashleen values the strong sense of family and tradition this brings. “I am sad to see this joint family concept has almost completely finished in India. But in my family, we live happily and peacefully together. I think this has also helped us stay connected with our roots and culture.”
Looking to the future
Ashleen’s vision does not stop here. She has set herself a goal of writing one book each year throughout high school, with each book dedicated to raising funds for charity. Her ultimate dream is to establish her own charity to help underprivileged children in India and other developing nations.
At just 12 years old, Ashleen has already achieved a lot. Whether she becomes a doctor or a lawyer, the two professions she is currently considering, one thing is certain. Her desire to uplift others will remain at the heart of everything she does.
Ashleen Khela
For now, she continues to write, to give, and to inspire. And with every story she pens, she is shaping a future where one young girl’s dream of change becomes a reality for those who need it the most.
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