This article was published by the Coonamble Times and is shared here with their permission.
Coonamble’s Literacy for Life team launched the latest intake for their ‘Yes I Can’ adult literacy campaign on Thursday 13 February, drawing in a majority young crowd eager to brush up on their literacy skills.
The Indigenous-led program helps people who have left school catch up on literacy skills they missed out on in the education system.
This time around majority of the seven people who have been attending classes regularly are in their teens, starting at 15.
Seventy-four-year-old June Lawerence is also returning to class and has been helping the younger students find their way into the program.
Ms Turnbull hopes that more of the 21 people who originally registered to join the latest campaign begin to turn up.
Literacy for Life wants to get as many people as possible involved in the program, so they are always keen to accept new participants.
Service agencies are encouraged to refer any clients who may benefit from the unique teaching style of Literacy of Life.
Campaign Project Manager Gail Turnbull said they have been enthusiastic about continuing the course after the trial period.
Mark Jones who started as a student and worked his way up to becoming a facilitator has become confident in his role.
“Mark has been doing very well. He helps with pick up and drop off,”
Literacy for Life is also forming a committee of community members who work in the eight pillars of the organisation, including Health, Culture, Law and Justice, Housing, Education, Employment, Community, and Making a Change.
They have invited several members willing to discuss details during a meeting on Friday 28 February.
The committee’s role would be to show participants how their skills can be useful in the job market or day-to-day life.
Ms Turnbull is keen to continue the program and keep the momentum going.
Previous participants said Literacy for Life has been the blessing they didn’t know they needed. “My cousin, Rose, suggested it,” Zerlia Jones said.
“I felt pretty confident reading and writing.
“After doing the program, I realised there were some things I still needed to learn.”
Ms Jones said Literacy for Life did well in explaining to her the words that sound the same but have a different spelling and meaning such as ‘their’ or ‘there’.
“It’s a lot easier than in school.
“You have a lot of fun and get a good laugh.”
Participants have a one-month trial period after which they decide if Literacy for Life is the right fit for them.