The Literacy Circle ~ Learning for Life

This is your chance to change a life.

The Literacy Circle program was developed in response to requests by elder Survivors living in the Snuneymuwx (Nanaimo BC) area who expressed a strong desire to learn to read. Many Survivors did not receive an education during their time at Residential and Day Schools. Additionally, the trauma and abuse experienced left many with a great reluctance to enter a traditional classroom setting. This left many Survivors, now elders in their communities, without critical literacy skills.

The Literacy Circle, a not-for-profit Society, provides a safe space for literacy training to Indigenous Elders and Adults, Residential, Day School Survivors and Intergenerational Survivors. The Literacy Circle teaches literacy skills to elders in a respectful way. The program is provided at no cost to participants and includes lunch and supplies. Instructors are all certified teachers with experience teaching adult literacy. The self-paced environment allows elders to proceed at a pace that is comfortable for them. For more information, please visit our website: www.theliteracycircle.ca.

Some goals of our current learners are: to read stories to grandchildren, medication information, recipes, apply for housing, get a driver’s licence, and understand basic math to plan and budget grocery shopping. And, of course, pride. To be more self-sufficient and to feel a part of the reading community. A life skill that keeps on giving!

The Literacy Circle is looking for financial support to offer classes in the fall of 2022. The current students have completed nine months of learning literacy and essential math skills and are eager to return to the classroom in September. With your help, we can offer this opportunity again. It’s a step, and you can help make it with us.

Please consider a donation to support The Literacy Circle for Indigenous elders. Every contribution is gratefully received. Thank you for reading and sharing this post.