A significant boost in funding has allowed Capiliano College to develop a new program for adult literacy.
With $40,000 of provincial support, two volunteer-based initiatives which began as pilot projects, Making the Grade and English as a Second Language, are amalgamating to form the Squamish Community Literacy Program.
"It's great news," said program co-ordinator Amy Halvorson. She said the programs work because of their flexibility. Volunteer tutors meet one-on-one with learners in their home, a coffee shop, or library. They meet on evenings, weekends, and any other time community members find it convenient to learn.
While some want to increase their reading and language skills in general, others work toward specific goals, such as obtaining a driver's licence. In this case, Halvorson said a volunteer would work through a training manual with them.
The goal is to cater lessons to the interests of the learner.
"If somebody loves to cook then you might go through cooking recipes in English," she said.
One Squamish resident, Terri, is currently taking part in the literacy program in hopes of getting her high school diploma. After winning a fight against thyroid cancer, she decided it was time to take a closer look at her priorities.
"I thought, I've got this opportunity so I might as well take it," she said, adding that she didn't like that she hadn't finished her schooling.With a 14-year-old daughter working on a diploma well, she chose to put education first.
She began by taking adult learning courses at the college and was awarded for her perseverance and success. To get an extra edge in preparing to write her high school equivalency exam, she joined Making the Grade.
She was paired up with a tutor who comes to her home and works through homework with her.
"She helps me understand better, that's what tutors are for. They help me get through the fogginess," Terri explained.
She added that she has developed a friendship with her tutor, which also makes learning more enjoyable. Dealing with dyslexia has been a hurdle for her, but Terri is not willing to give up on her high school diploma.
"Hopefully, I get it next time. Otherwise, I'm just going to keep plugging away."The funding the program has received will go toward training volunteers and paying staff available for more hours of support and recruiting. But Halvorson said the program's biggest problem can't be fixed with money. She is perpetually short on volunteers, and occasionally has to turn away learners who cannot be matched.
"So many learners, not enough tutors," she said.
In some cases, a lack of volunteers forces her to scrap the one-on-one approach for groups of three to four learners at a time. Anyone interested in joining the program can contact Halvorson at 604-892-5322 ext. 5815.
