The Chilliwack Literacy Plan includes the following 5 Strategies
- Reach out to adults in need of help from others. Give them support, services and programs that bring back the desire to learn
- Reach out to parents and caregivers of young children. Give them skills, tools and support to develop a love of learning and school-readiness in the child.
- Work alongside the existing system of family development programs to increase pre-literacy supports and program sustainability
- Work alongside community agencies to encourage and develop learning opportunities for youth to progress beyond their current capabilities
- Work with local businesses to create or improve literacy and employability skills training in the workplace
Click on the links to the right to learn more about each individual strategy.
Would you like to share your time and talent to help someone else learn? If so, perhaps you would like to become a volunteer Outreach Worker for Literacy (OWL).
CALL* Chilliwack is a volunteer based literacy outreach program. University of the Fraser Valley-trained, volunteer Outreach Workers for Literacy tutor and mentor adults in our community (including adults returning to complete academic goals, adults in the workplace and English as a second language learners), youth, or parents with young children who have something they need or would like to learn, and who would appreciate a little help from someone else.
Learners find out about the CALL Chilliwack program through word of mouth or from community organizations. The program has a “learner centered” approach, which means that the learner decides what they want to learn. The OWLs and the Chilliwack Community Literacy Coordinator work with the learners to establish learning goals.
Learners and OWLs work together in one-on-one pairs, in small groups, or in classrooms. Sometimes OWLs are “integrated” into community programs and become available to assist people on an “as needed” basis.
Matching learners with OWLs, and OWLs with programs is part of the work of the Chilliwack Community Literacy Coordinator. The matching process takes into consideration the preferences, skills and availability of learners and OWLs, as well as the needs of the organization.
The learner – OWL relationship is a privileged one. OWLs qualify to work with learners when they have completed their training, and through it, have demonstrated non-judgmental attitudes and openness towards their own learning. Learners and OWLs are then in partnership, focusing on the learning needs of one, while working together to the benefit of both.
The free training program includes information about: how adults learn to read and write, how we learn to learn, how to help people set and meet their learning goals, what volunteers need to know about volunteering, and more.
Training begins with a 2 hour (approximate) on-line self study web based course followed by a training day. The on-line course is about tutoring English as a second language learners. An overview of the on-line course is available at http://www.mytrainingbc.ca/eslsap/recruitment/index.html. We will do our best to help anyone who does not have a computer, or is not completely comfortable with the idea of an on-line course.
The registration and training process includes:
- completing a registration form (see link below)
- having a conversation with Debbie (coordinator)
- completing the on-line training (a link will be provided to you for this), and
- attending training.
- Attending follow up sessions provided for you.
Debbie Denault
Community Literacy Coordinator
Chilliwack Learning Community Society
debbied@chilliwacklearning.com
604-792-0025 ext. 2434
www.chilliwacklearning.com
*CALL - (Community Access to Literacy and Learning)
OWL Registration Form
Click here to fill out the OWL Registration Form.
Literacy Tutor training
Click here to view the flyer for upcoming OWL/Literacy Tutor training.
REAL Relief Application for a free computer
REAL Relief is a local organization that provides good quality recycled computers to those in need - both in Chilliwack and around the world. If you don't have access to a computer and you qualify, please complete their application form. It can be found here.