Community Learning Network is looking for Success Stories from our Councils.
Please contact clnadmin@telus.net if your council has a story you would like to share.
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This success story comes from Chandra Blair, Executive Director at Vermilion River CLASS
Floyd was a hard rock miner who dropped out of school at a very early age to support his mother and sisters. His wife was a very caring and loving person who protected him and did everything that required reading or writing. With his wife’s loss in the Spring of 2009, he came to Vermilion to be with his daughter for a month (which has now turned into 5 months). With his daughter’s encouragement he came to CLASS to help him read and write and become more independent in his new life.
When he started, Floyd knew some basic words by memory only. Within three months of one on one tutoring, Floyd was sounding out 3 syllable words and writing Christmas cards to his friends back in Ontario. He is reading everything in sight now, and wrestling with the Reader’s Digest, which was one of his reading goals when starting. Floyd learned pre-basic computer skills through a CLASS computer course. He is now able to operate a ATM machine, and use his bank card anywhere. He wants to drive a vehicle next, and I have no doubt that with his energy and motivation, he will.
Floyd went back to his hometown in Ontario this January, and he is greatly missed. At the wonderful age of 79, Floyd proves that no one is too old to learn the essential skills of literacy. He is an inspiration to all that life may change, but changes can give you the opportunity to learn and grow if you take it.
It is possible to learn at any age, and make great friends and memories at the same time.
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Gail Cooper, Coordinator at Peace River Community Adult Learning Council shared this story about a recent Learning Fair:
The Peace Adult Learning Society in Rycroft hosted ‘The Learning Fair’ on Sat., April 25, 2009. This was an adult education and literacy showcase. There were exhibitors from the Grande Prairie Regional College and also their Fairview Campus; Harvey and Judy Brown who are local tutors in math, English, computers, physics, etc.; The Peace Academy of Virtual Education; FCSS; Grande Prairie Council for Lifelong Learning; Mitchell Therapeutic Services and Kathryn Currie from Crossroads Women’s Shelter on empowering women to learn. The highlight of the day was Daniel Haines, the 2008 Alberta Literacy Award Winner who spoke on how learning to read and write has changed his life. He is an inspiration to us all and a testimonial on how it is never too late to learn something new. The PALS Board has decided to host this event again for the next two years. “It is our job to bring as much information on adult education and literacy to as many people as we can,” said Board Chair, Theresa Menzies. This event was funded by Alberta Advanced Education and Technology.
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The following is an excerpt from an email received by the iCCAN Project from Val Rathjen, Coordinator of Flagstaff Adult Learning in Killam, regarding a recent videoconferencing event:
Barb,
Wow, what a great day we had! Thanks so much for helping with the vc seminar. Jennifer did an excellent job, this was probably our best session yet! The ladies really embraced this learning style and went with it. It helps to employ some of the etiquette tips - thanks for those helpful hints.
I am looking forward to tomorrow nights board development - this will be really interesting to see how it works with the multiple sites.
Val
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These Stories come from some of the learners involved in programs funded by Edmonton Community Adult Learning Association:
“Great child development, encourages children to have better social skills. It gets parents to meet other parents and talk about all kinds of positive info.” Learner, ABC Head Start -Parenting program
“I believe that this workshop not only helped me see my hidden anger, it helped me understand what was making me angry. The interaction between my classmates helped me understand that it’s not anger that is the issue so much as how we deal with it. Thank you so much for believing in all of our potential. I do believe that the course provided was beneficial and will last with me for I have used the techniques taught and they really helped." -Learner, Catholic Social Services- Anger Management
“My children LOVE singing the songs. My son’s speech has improved.” Learner, Centre for Family Literacy –Rhymes That Bind
“To be able to write a lot better and it makes me better.” Learner, Centre for Family Literacy- Writing Class for Adults
“I can talk to shop keepers in English and with the ETS bus drivers when I want to get off the bus.” Learner, Edmonton Chinatown Multicultural Centre- EAL for seniors
“The most rewarding part is getting to know the students and helping them to understand the new language and culture in Canada. I love learning about their homelands as well.” Volunteer, Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers- EAL for Seniors
“My goal is to work with money so I can get a better job dealing with money, like at a restaurant. It is a real experience being back at school. I need more help on how to deal with money. Cynthia is the awesome math teacher. She is very nice lady. I really like being her with everyone.” Learner, Learning Centre- Math Program
“To grieve is part of living and I have learned that death ends a life, not a relationship. I can continue to draw upon that relationship all my life.” Learner, Jewish Family Services- Bereavement program
“I learned so much in this training- I used it recently at my job. It was a really fantastic experience to use my new skills in this capacity.”
“I find I am using these skills with my friends and they really notice a difference in what a better listener I’ve become.” Learners- The Support Network-Distress Line Training
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This success story comes from Barb Hudkins, Project Coordinator with the iCCAN Project
Recently, the CLN office had our first programming VC (Video Conference) session with Val Rathjen from Flagstaff Community Adult Learning Council in Killam, and an instructor from Money Mentors. Originally their instructor was going to drive out to Killam on a Saturday for a two hour presentation but instead, the instructor came to the CLN office to do the presentation via Video Conferencing.
The evaluations we received afterwards indicated good learning and participants were excited and also brainstormed ideas for future VC learning opportunities. The instructor had some experience with Video Conferencing and was excited about the possibility of doing this again. Cathy King, iCCAN Project Manager, was of great support to me, and we even tried to tape the session via DVD recorder. We learned lots of new lessons such as making sure that there is a clock in the room for the presenter, tilting the flipchart forward to prevent glare and making sure that if your office is being cleaned on the weekend, they are aware of the scheduling. Some of these tips and more will be incorporated into the iCCAN Training Manual. Thanks again Cathy for all your help!
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This success story comes from Marilyn Eek, Coordinator of Northeast Community Adult Learning Council in Fort Vermilion; one of the northern-most councils in Alberta.
Northeast Community Adult Learning Council has run the Food Safe course several times in the past few years. There have always been folks who have backed out, but I have kept them on a list. The next time we offer the course, I make a point to phone them, as, in spite of signage and mail-outs, we always struggle to meet class quotas.
As I was finalizing arrangements for our most recent Food Safe course offering, I decided to contract the instructor for 8 students, thinking I would be paying for some empty seats. I then got on the phone and a few days later, I was able to present the instructor with 13 participants! Part of the success was the person-to-person outreach I did, and the information I gave about generous course subsidies.
The course ran, and as I was finishing up the paperwork I realised I had to phone one of the participants to collect the $20 cash she had for me. When I thanked her for coming back to the office, she very pointedly smiled and thanked me for what I had done, saying, “I had wanted to get this course for a long time, now, but never could.” Now, she has a certificate to help her get a job in support of her growing family (the baby of which she ran home to nurse throughout the course!)
I am so happy for Alberta’s CALP program and our ability to help barriered learners.
Marilyn Eek, Coordinator
NE Community Adult Learning
Fort Vermilion, Alberta