Who We Are? What is the Need? What We Do? What is Literacy? Impact of Success ?

Who We Are?  The Adult Literacy Council of Greater Fort Erie (FEALC) is a community-based literacy organization that helps adults improve their reading, writing, math and basic computer skills  FEALC has been an integral part of enhancing literacy skills with adults in Fort Erie for over 30 years  Our Mission Statement: We are a dedicated volunteer-driven registered charity that actively empowers adult learning partnerships for personal enrichment in the Greater Fort Erie Community  Our goal is to help adults become more active within their communities, their families and their working lives

What is the Need?  42% of Canadians do not have the literacy skills they need to meet the demands of today’s society  Low literacy undermines success in the literacy market due to lower income potential and longer periods of unemployment  35% of youth between the ages of 16 and 25 score below level 3  Canadian youth with lower educated parents scored significantly lower in a 2004 survey than similar youth scored in 1994 on literacy skills  People who need training the most are least likely to access it ….Gov’t and business tend to invest in training more for those who are already highly educated.

What We Do? Each year FEALC serves over 100 adults These clients come to us for a number of different reasons:  Some are looking to get a job or a better job  Some are looking to upgrade their skills so they can be successful in a higher academic setting  Others are hoping to learn new skills so that they can be more independent and feel better about the contribution they can make to their families and to society  Still others have more personal reasons to enhance their reading skills or basic computer literacy abilities

What is Literacy? Literacy now encompasses nine identified Essential Skills:  Reading text  Document use  Numeracy  Writing  Oral Communication  Working with Others  Continuous learning  Thinking Skills  Computer Use

Impact of Success? The Value that Literacy Volunteers Bring to our Communities 1.Economic value of all literacy volunteers in Ontario is estimated at almost $14 million each year 2.The Social Value impacts that literacy volunteers bring include; ▪ Sensitivity, Patience and Understanding ▪ Teaching experience ▪ Writing and communication skills ▪ Commitment and dependability ▪ Enthusiasm 3.Volunteers contribute their time in: ▪ Tutoring, Board Governance; Committee work; Fundraising; Special Events; etc… 4.Volunteers are motivated by: ▪ Opportunity to make a positive difference ▪ Opportunity to increase literacy skills in the community ▪ Many other personal and social motivators

Together We Can Create Greater Literacy!