Many of us probably take literacy a little bit for granted. After all, you wouldn’t be reading this without it.
Tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of International Literacy Day, an event promoted by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
Here in St. Albert, STAR Literacy is hoping to celebrate the entire month of September. Executive director Shelley Passek is kicking it all off at the library with a display of postcards that she hopes people will pick up and use to share their own stories of literacy success.
“We want to [touch base with] community members so that it increases their awareness that literacy does affect people in a good way. There are people who are really struggling out there. What can we do to support them?” she said, posing a rhetorical question.
“Hopefully, through this process, someone will also realize that there’s a literacy program here in St. Albert, and we can help them.”
She said that there are probably a greater number of individuals out there in need of literacy assistance than most people realize, and they come in all shapes and sizes and ages too. She shared a story of a middle-aged man who wanted to upgrade his math skills in order to get into the apprenticeship program. He passed the test, she said, and is on his way to achieving a better career for himself.
The campaign is a combined effort of the partners through Literacy Works, a metro Edmonton affiliation of various literacy organizations. The postcards will also be available at displays found at a variety of other libraries throughout the area including Leduc, Fort Saskatchewan and Sherwood Park.
Passek said that this last year saw a banner number of registrants looking for literacy assistance with their basic English skills in reading, writing and math. At the end of June, there were only three people still on the waiting list, a record low number all thanks to a greater influx of tutors at the same time.
“That was awesome. I have a great group of volunteers,” she said, adding that new tutors are always welcome and encouraged to sign up, because, as she puts it, “there will always be new people needing help.”
One of STAR’s other programs to improve literacy throughout the community is a Conversation Circle that takes place at the library every Friday afternoon. Its official fall start date is Sept. 16. All of its programs and services are free and open to all.
