By Judy Kaplan
Can you imagine your daily life if you couldn’t read? You would be unable to use a computer, fill out a job application, or understand the report cards your children bring home. Daily problems for non-readers are endless.
Many adults were not ready to learn to read and write when they went to grade school, and some were kept from going on a continuous basis. Even though they have been able to find jobs and support themselves, their ability to advance in their workplaces or get better jobs has been limited. Other groups with similar problems are refugees and immigrants who are invited into the country. Often they arrive with the inability to speak English. They must learn to speak English as well as to read and write it. Some have been educated; others have had no instruction in their home countries. Literacy Volunteers addresses these needs by teaching reading and writing with no cost to the student.
The people who come to Literacy Volunteers are courageous, motivated, and grateful. They come ready to put in the time it takes to learn. If you decide you’d like the chance to assist people in their life journeys by tutoring a student in reading and writing, I can promise you an enriching experience, which increases the literacy of not only your student but also your student’s family.
Tutors must have graduated from high school and be at least 18 years of age. Literacy Volunteers provides training monthly on either two Saturdays or four weeknights. Once you have completed your training and six hours of classroom observation, you will be assigned a student. Tutors are asked to meet with their student two hours a week. Students are from all parts of Atlanta and its suburbs, and you will be matched with a person from the area in which you want to work. You will be given a number of places where you and your student can meet. Local libraries and coffee shops are often used for tutoring. In East Atlanta, the East Atlanta Branch Library and Joe’s East Atlanta Coffee Shop, both on Flat Shoals Avenue SE welcome tutors and students. In Grant Park, the Georgia Hill Branch Library is available.
You can contact Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta at 404-377-7323. Training is at the central office at 246 Sycamore Street, Suite 110, Decatur, GA 30030. It’s across from the Decatur Library, and the Marta Station is at the corner. Ask for Kim or Angela when you call.
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