Brianne Niznikowski, the adult literacy program co-ordinator at Okanagan College, is looking for tutors to volunteer with the South Okanagan Community Adult Literacy Program. The need for adult tutors is particularly pressing in Osoyoos. (Contributed photo)

An adult literacy program with a goal to improve the reading and writing skills of adults in Osoyoos and Oliver is looking for adult tutors to lend a helping hand.

The South Okanagan Community Adult Literacy Program is looking to recruit numerous adult tutors in a program that has been offered through Okanagan College in Penticton since the early 2000’s, said Brianne Niznikowski, the adult literacy program co-ordinator and a longtime literacy instructor at Okanagan College.

The need for adult tutors willing to lend a helping hand is particularly pressing in Osoyoos, said Niznikowski.

“We don’t currently have a single adult tutor signed up in Osoyoos, but I’m really hoping that will change with this public appeal,” she said. “We’ve had good response from Osoyoos in the past, but for whatever reason, that’s not the case right now.

“We currently have a strong contingent of about 10 tutors in Oliver and we’re always looking for more.”

Okanagan College has been offering adult literacy programs in each community where it has a campus for the past 15 years and this program has helped hundreds of immigrants and adult learners improve their literacy skills, she said.

Okanagan College offers the program in Revelstoke, Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton and Salmon Arm.

The Penticton campus decided to extend the program offered in that city to residents in Oliver and Osoyoos more than 15 years ago, she said.

There is a “mixed bag” of people who benefit from accessing the adult literacy program, she said.

“The only criteria you need to enter the program is that you must be 19 years of age and older,” she said. “We have young people who have struggled with reading and writing skills up to older people in their 70s who want to improve their skills.

“We also have tutors that work one-on-one with new immigrants and access English as a second language training.”

All tutors who are interested in helping out and given training by Niznikowski and her staff at Okanagan College.

“I will personally sit down with them and discuss what’s expected and go through the materials we use in the program,” she said.

The majority of the tutoring offered to clients is one-on-one training where each learner develops at his or her own pace, she said.

“It’s all learner centred,” she said. “Some people learn quicker than others and this must always be kept in mind. The whole goal is to improve their literacy skills at a pace they feel comfortable with.”

The adult literacy program is offered year-round, although many learners can’t participate 12 months of the year due to work or family obligations, she said.

“A lot of the students might need to take the summer off because of a job or their family,” she said. “Others can only access tutors after work, so we will try and make arrangements to help them.

“Most learners meet once or twice a week with their tutor and the sessions usually last one to two hours.”

Improving reading and writing skills not only helps literacy, but also builds self-confidence and self-esteem, said Niznikowski.

“Most of our learners see a big improvement right away once they access one-on-one tutoring and this really builds their confidence, which allows them to learn at an even faster pace,” she said.

The tutor benefits from observing the positive impact and influence they are having on the learners, she said.

The program is offered free of charge to all learners, she said.

Being a tutor provides a wonderful opportunity to make a real difference in someone’s life, she said.

“Most of the tutors I’ve dealt with in my three years with the program say they get more out of it than the learners,” she said. “It’s very rewarding to see someone improve their literacy skills right in front of their eyes.”

Helping adults grasp literacy skills can be a life-altering experience for not only the learners, but also the tutors as they realize they are helping hone skills which improve the quality of life of the people they are assisting, said Niznkikowski.

If anyone in Osoyoos or Oliver wants to get involved, they are asked to contact Niznikowski at 1-250-492-4305, ext. 3331.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times