My Nonprofit Reviews
longbeach
Review for Literacy Partners, Inc., New York, NY, USA
Literacy Partners is an organization that teaches adults to learn to read – and hopefully brings their basic skills up to par (reading, writing and basic arithmetic) so that they eventually go to the next step and obtain a GED. LP programs include pre-GED, GED and ESOL. LP also covers employment preparation, family and health literacy, which enables these students to make changes for themselves and their home life as well. As their knowledge increases, their enthusiasm and self esteem florishes. Their families get involved and there is a overall feeling of accomplishment – the benefits to these programs are endless. In my four years at LP, I have found that many students - due to different circumstances - were not given the opportunity to learn properly when they were young – and now as adults they want to improve their place in life but are trapped because they cannot read. They are frustrated and very aware of their shortcomings and want to catch up - so when they join LP they are very committed and determined to succeed. Donors and volunteers who invest their time and money in Literacy Partners are not only able to make difference in these peoples lives and communities but they can also affect the economy of future generations. It is a win-win for everyone.
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
As a tutor you begin by giving encouragement - we work as a team - we are all in this together. As the students progress, they tend to help each other. I helped people learn how to write a check, contact Con Ed, fill in forms.A student needed to take a test to be a Security Guard. He was working in a NY building and was given 3 months to prepare to take the test. This was the only way he could keep his job. I found the manual for him on line, studied it myself and taught it to him. The test was in 3 parts but each part was the same questions, asked a different way. A person with limited reading ability would never pick this up. He worked very hard with us on a regular basis and he passed. The students know that reading=jobs=security. Most of them have children and this is their inspiration.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Although LP has a library on hand for reading and testing,and phonic sheets which help them break down words. I would like LP to produce professional little booklets we could hand out each week to rate their comprehension. The students don’t know how to take tests – how to read instructions and follow them, how to fill in the answers, how to choose the correct answer by looking for key words in the text. There is so much they have to learn.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
Meeting people from different countries as well as in the US and helping them.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
The volunteers are dedicated and enjoy their work
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Send more productive people out into the world - and build stronger families and communities.
Ways to make it better...
I had access to basic testing materials
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
The weak economy is limiting donations from citizens and major organizations
One thing I'd also say is that...
Please support Literacy Partners it is an investment in people and the future.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
