 Imagine a life in which you didn’t understand the spoken language, couldn’t read the directions on a bottle of medicine, or were not able to fill out a job application because the words in print made no sense. That image is a life not lived to its fullest.
Unfortunately, this scenario is all too real for people across the nation and locally who lack the basic literacy skills to succeed in today’s world.
Luckily there is help and it comes freely, thanks to the compassion and dedication of volunteers in the area who give their time and talents to assist others in need through literacy programs.
With ongoing budget cuts, literacy programs statewide are feeling the financial pinch. In many cases, volunteers are the only way some programs remain operational.
Volunteering takes only a couple of hours each week, does not cost anything, and training is provided at no cost.
At the United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC) in Scranton, the mission of the multi-faceted, nonprofit organization is to enrich people’s lives, no matter if they are senior citizens, a young parent, or an immigrant new to America.
According to the 2010 census, nearly 18% of the adults in Lackawanna County are educationally disadvantaged, with many deemed functionally illiterate. The UNC’s goal is to help a father read a bedtime story to his child, assist a high school dropout earn his or her GED, or provide education to learn to speak English.
“Being a volunteer is a win-win situation for everyone involved. Students learns skills they will use for the rest of their lives, which also benefits their family and the community,” said English as a Second Language Volunteer Paula Gannon. “And for the volunteer, there is such a thrill when you realize someone you are tutoring has that moment when they not only fully understand what they are learning, but you can see their self-confidence improve. The experience is also enlightening because you have the opportunity to learn about a different culture and hear about another person’s goals.”
Just as each person’s goals are different, so, too, are the reasons people seek literacy help, including immigration or a person who dropped out of school.
“We do not charge for our services, since we rely on volunteers for tutoring, and we provide a learning environment that is non-judgmental and accommodating to help meet the needs of people in the community who need help with literacy issues,” said Michael Hanley, executive director at UNC. “We are extremely lucky to have such a dedicated group of volunteers who give their time to help make a difference in someone’s life.”
Literacy volunteers work with students either one-on-one or in small groups, either meeting at the UNC in Scranton or at local libraries, providing them with the skills and encouragement they need to succeed.
The UNC’s SCOLA (Scranton Council of Literacy Advance) Learning Center features a
17-seat computer lab and complete classrooms in which more than 60 programs are offered, including courses in reading, life skills, math, vocabulary, spelling, grammar, and GED preparation.
“Every student is different and comes into the program with different needs, so we work with them to meet those specific needs through conversation programs, reading, and other activities,” said Gannon. “Another benefit to
being a volunteer with UNC is how they match a student and tutor. They try and find the correct match so the learning process is easier.”
She also noted that taking the first steps toward improving one’s literacy skills is often one of the hardest parts of the program, since some people feel embarrassed admitting they need help to improve their literacy skills.
“New students tend to be afraid of making mistakes, more so than a younger student, but we work with each student and help them overcome their fears. In fact, in most cases, once the student learns certain areas of learning a new language, they often start to figure certain vocabulary obstacles out on their own,” said Gannon.
“Over time the students, through consistency and dedication, also build their self-esteem. When I have a student come up and they tell me their boss or people that they work with can understand what they are saying now, the pride of accomplishment on their face is simply thrilling to see and know you had a part in making that happen.”
For more information on United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania, visit www.uncnepa.org.
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