The Duncan Lions Club has donated $5,000 to Literacy Now Cowichan, aiding its efforts throughout the region.
“This support and endorsement for our adult literacy program means so much to our tutors and learners,” said LNC executive director Kathleen Erickson.
The Lions agree.
“We believe in support for literacy and many of us know people who face challenges with reading and writing. Therefore, we can connect with all that,” explained Lyne Moreau, president of Duncan Lions Club. “We like that the support LNC provides for computer literacy, too.”
Erickson said Literacy Now is experiencing something of a renaissance in its downtown learning centre.
“Men and women, who for years have felt so badly about their reading or spelling, are working with tutors and are telling us that this experience is changing their lives,” she said.
The Lions’ funds will help adults “get the support they need to set goals, to learn in a safe, encouraging environment and to gain the confidence they need to plan for their future.”
Pathways to Learning, a program serving some 250 Cowichan region adult learners each year with free one-to-one literacy lessons with highly trained volunteer tutors, is where the funds will end up.
Erickson explained that participants are looking for help in reading, writing, spelling, and math. They may also need to learn how to use a computer so they can find and apply for a job or access government services like citizenship documents, employment insurance or the guaranteed income supplement.
In addition, LNC works with newcomers who need help with the English language, seniors, and those living with a disability. As well as providing needed skills, the program enhances participants’ self-esteem and gives them the confidence to move on to the next phase of their life goals.