April 2009 - Volume 25, Issue 4
Inside this issue:
National Volunteer Week
How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment
before starting to improve the world.
~ Anne Frank
Let us celebrate you! We would like to invite all our volunteers to a Tea and Tutor Chat, Wednesday, April 22nd between 10-12 am. If you have something particular you would like to talk about, contact Wendy beforehand at the office, so that she may ruminate… Let us know by Friday, April 17th, if you will be attending.
Good food, gifts for all!
St. Patrick's Day 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of my work
in literacy. Much has changed since then… we no longer talk about
“the illiterate” or “eradicating illiteracy” as though it were a plague, and I don't type
on an IBM Selectric. The work has been as varied as it has been interesting… Alpha Marche,
dressing up as a superhero and flying through a crowd of children at Ben Wick's Born to Read launch, training in Sheshashit, Labrador, going to jail. I've grown up (not old?) in literacy. No one
remarks “but she's so young” anymore, clearly meaning inexperienced. As in any job, there are the
unpleasant things - government payroll deductions spring to mind, followed closely by all-day
meetings. But, when I reflect on the highlights over the years, it has always been about the people.
Each new student that comes through the door teaches me something invaluable. I still get shivers
when a student shares with me the very personal details of their own struggle with literacy. I
celebrate their achievements. And the tutors that work with students are a class
unto themselves. They stop at nothing to make a difference. In many cases, they
are the first person in a student's life who has believed in them. So as I tilt back my
green beer, and celebrate this St. Paddy's Day, I am honoured to be in good
company.
Wendy Seys, YLC Coordinator
