Literacy Volunteers is an important means to help people better communicate in English. The mother that I am helping wants to understand the notes that are sent home from school with her children. She wants to help her children do well in school and communicate with the teachers.
Last year at about this time, July, I've volunteered and took the training to become a tutor for English as a Second Language (ESOL). Specifically, I wanted to help Ukrainian war refugees that were resettling in the area here in South Sarasota County. I felt a moral obligation to try to help the millions of unfortunate and suffering families whose lives were in mortal danger and in harm's way. Most of these families needed ESOL classes to begin rebuilding their lives. Fortunately there is a tremendous organization, Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County, that has been changing lives for four decades right here in South Sarasota County.
After a month or two of working with one family in particular, I learned more about their deplorable living conditions. Besides needing English lessons, they needed help with just about every other aspect of their life. Yes, there are other social service agencies that were trying to help them. But, reestablishing your lives and your families in a new country with no jobs, no income, no transportation, no real health or dental insurance, no idea how to register for schooling for their children no language skills is practically a herculean effort.
As I worked with this family, I was introduced to two other families that needed help with English as a second language. I have been working with these three families now since the beginning of this year, January 2023.
It is a immensely rewarding experience for me. These families are eternally grateful for the services that Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County offers. learning the English language is the cornerstone to help them manage and rebuild their lives.
Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County has been in existence for 40 years. It is helped thousands of people from all corners of the world to better their lives and their career opportunities, their families and communities. Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County is on the front line of helping people and families rebuild their lives and help their families thrive. It is a remarkable, extraordinary and vitally important organization that establishes community in South Sarasota County. The professional and dedicated staff along with many selfless, generous and giving volunteers provide hope, education and a kind helping hand to thousands of people in need who just want to better themselves and provide for their families.
I am proud to be a volunteer working with Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County.
After completing a training program, I felt well-equipped to begin tutoring. Soon after training and with a full tool box of ESL resources, I was able to be matched with a wonderful and enthusiastic student. We are well on our way and we both look forward to reaching the goals.
There is nothing like the feeling of helping another person to learn the English language and customs. This is truly a great service and you make your own schedule with your student. There is so much information to impart! This nonprofit will welcome you and guide you every step of the way. It’s great to feel part of an organization truly dedicated to helping others trying to navigate our language and culture.
With great support and encouragement from the Board, Staff and Volunteers at Volunteers of America of South Sarasota County, Inc. I was able to work with a Chinese woman and to bring her English literacy level up to a 2. At this point we began preparing her for a driver’s license as well.
She was so pleased that her learning and reading had progressed way beyond that of her friends in China, who’d been studying English for 3-4 years.
No only is there support for the actual tutoring, but there are meetings for the tutors to learn and share ideas. As well, there are social gatherings, lunches, for tutors and students to come together … for student sharing of their own learning.
This group is a real community, a family … as in “it takes a village”. This is such an an asset and a strength … not only in the south of Sarasota, but in all of Sarasota County!
LVSSC continues to help people who need to improve their literacy skills. I am amazed at how much this organization does with such limited funding. And their volunteers are so dedicated!
I am a board member and tutor with the LVSSC. It is my pleasure to be affiliated with such a dedicated and caring group. Our goal is to help as many of those that truly want to learn to read, write and speak English. We are constantly searching for sources and resources that would better help our students reach their goal of learning a new language. The Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County offers free classes to all and is truly a gift to the community.
I am retired and desired to have a more active volunteer role in helping our community of foreigners here in Florida. My search led me to the Literacy Volunteer of SSC where they embraced and gave me the necessary training I needed to make a difference in someone's life. The vast resources they offered at the community libraries are amazing and simplified for anyone to learn and teach from. This literacy program also offers ongoing workshops to help us volunteers improve our techniques to meet the different needs individuals have as they pursue to improve their English as their second language. Whether it be to get their GED, drivers license, obtain employment, and effectively speak, read & write the English language, this is the most valuable program foreigners can take advantage of to help them live a better and more effective life here in America. The fact that it's available to everyone at no cost excludes no one, and greatly helps those who could never afford personal one on one tutoring. I'm excited to be a part of this wonderful program.
I decided to support the Literacy Volunteers because they offer a one-of-a kind and very needed service in South Sarasota County. The dedication and excitement that both students and tutors exhibit is contagious and made my decision to get involved effortless. This group deserves greater recognition and a prime spot in the limelight!
For over 25 years, I have had a connection to the Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County due to my position as library manager and then director of the county library system. The Literacy Volunteers' office is in the Venice Library where I could observe their work over the years. For a time, I served on their advisory board and then became a contributing member but not a volunteer. When I retired, I decided that this group, focused on reading and teaching others, was the one with which I wanted to be involved. This is my third year on the Board of Directors where I see first hand the dedication of the volunteers and staff, the accomplishments of the students and the effective/efficient use of resources.
I had just retired and wanted to continue working with motivated people who were learning and teaching one another. The introductory meetings were very helpful. They alerted me to a multitude of resources found in the local library. I entered the "tutoring experience" with a modest sense of uncertainty but was quickly encouraged by our leader, Library personnel, and the energy of the tutored adults. I find it a great feeling to be able to touch the life of another adult wanting to learn English as a second language!!
I came to the Literacy Volunteers 3 years ago to improve my English, the people were friendly and nice and helped me to get a better job. I can now help my daughter with her home work and can talk to the teacher. Thank you for helping me and making my life better!
I first became involved in Literacy Volunteers as a tutor approximately 11 years ago. My tutoring experience was so rewarding and I enjoyed my students very much. I am currently serving as a board member and the tutor trainer for the organization. This organization provides such great service to anyone in our community needing help with English skills - both Basic English (for those who have been raised in this country) and English as a Second Language (for people who have a different language as their first language). Our biggest challenge is getting the word out to those in our community who would benefit from a tutor. We also are challenged to get more volunteers who want to tutor the students. Tutors do not need to speak another language and do not need prior experience. Training and support is provided to our tutors. And, the services we provide are ALWAYS FREE.
My experience with the Literacy Volunteers has been truly amazing. I feel privileged to work with a number of highly dedicated and committed volunteers and consider myself lucky to be able to share my English language skills with a group of enthusiastic and devoted students. The organization is extremely well organized and efficient, and provides outstanding and FREE services to those who need help with their reading, writing, and speaking skills.
I've been a Board member of Literacy Volunteers for six years, and a tutor for twelve years. When I first volunteered to tutor, I quickly learned that I did not need prior teaching experience nor did I need to speak a foreign language to help immigrants learn English as a Second Language. Excellent training is provided for new tutors. I was able to select between a number of adult learners waiting for tutors. I enjoy tutoring and participating in Literacy Volunteers tutor activities. Serving as a Board member has also been a rewarding experience. This organization is celebrating its 30th Anniversary in 2012; that's 30 years of helping adult residents of South Sarasota County Florida learn to speak, read, and write English. Last year, 117 tutors helped 286 adult learners with the support of 17 other volunteers.
Being a teacher by profession, one of the last things I ever thought I'd be doing with my free time was volunteering to tutor additional students! Yet I'm so glad that I did--not only has it provided me with the uniquely rewarding experience of connecting with individuals of entirely different cultural backgrounds and helping them to become further assimilated, but it has brought me into association with an inspiring group comprised of dedicated and enthusiastic members--the Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County. This organization has made an exemplary commitment to bettering the lives of anyone whose deficiencies in reading, writing and English comprehension skills are holding them back from achieving their goals in life, and they are utterly deserving of any and every kind of support, both from philanthropic agencies and members of the local community--could this perhaps be you? Give it a try--I highly recommend it!