Beacon and LCLV to offer GED and ESL training
In today’s economic atmosphere, finding a good-paying job has become increasingly more difficult. As the unemployment numbers indicate, securing a decent income is even more difficult for those who do not have a high school diploma or possess strong skills in English. Addressing this problem, the Beacon of HOPE recently teamed up with the Lee County organization, Literacy Volunteers, who are working toward aiding those who need assistance in obtaining a General Equivalency Diploma, or GED, or English as a Second Language. As an extension of the after-school program sponsored by the Beacon, which is geared to fourth and fifth grade students, mentors and tutors will hold special sessions using the Students Achieving Success program classroom to assist teens and adults with needed skills to obtain a GED or improve language skills.
With a donation of the Matlacha Hookers, coordinators of the SAS program have purchased books needed for the program as well as those for a second program in the works which will teach English as a second language.
“The members of the Matlacha Hookers recently established a fund to aid in education and we decided that the funds in the Chrissy Frahm account which was recently established by our organization, would be well spent on these programs,” said Hooker member Nicole Lauber-McQuade “We like to say, that as an organization, we are Hooked on Education and we felt that these program as well as supporting SAS was the first step in helping people to get better jobs and have better lives.”
To make a donation to the Chrissy Frahm Education Fund, contact Lauber-McQuade at 850-5438.
Serving as the liaison with Literacy Volunteers of Lee County is Kristin Current, program director, is pleased to bring the programs to Pine Island.
“It goes without saying that in order for a person to move forward in today’s economy they need at least a GED,” Current said. “Our mission at Literacy Volunteers is to provide free, confidential literacy services to any adult who needs it. We cannot accomplish this however without the help of volunteers from the island. In many instances it is difficult, if not impossible for those needing our help to come to us, so we are very pleased that with the help of island volunteers, we will be able to bring these services to people here.”
According to Current, those who would like to volunteer need not have a background in education, but will need to be a high school graduate. Volunteers will be trained by professional staff members and will need to commit to volunteering for at least one hour per week. As for the students, Current said that each individual will be allowed to learn at his or her own pace as there is no time limit involved when preparing to take the GED exam.
To help instruct adult classes in English as a Second Language, Current said that volunteers need not be bi-lingual.
“We don’t require our volunteers for this program to speak Spanish. In fact they are instructed to speak only in English to our English as a Second Language students,” Current said.
In preparation for both the GED training and ESL, instructional material has already been acquired through funds provided by the SAS program and a classroom will be provided by the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District.
“We would like to thank Chief Bradley and the fire department for providing space in the Bokeelia station for the weekly classes. It was Chief Bradley who approached me first to offer his assistance when he realized the growing need for this training within our community. Thanks to his concern, these programs are now becoming a reality. I would also like to thank Kristin for her persistence in making the ESL program on Pine Island a reality,” said SAS founding member, Dr. James Cole. “SAS’s primary mission is to provide after school tutorial and mentoring opportunities, by working with families, teachers, school administration and other community organizations to enhance a student’s academic success and progressive integration into his or her community. When we began this program just one year ago, we had no idea how far it would take us and it gives us great pleasure in knowing that by adding the GED and ESL programs, that SAS will have an even greater reach out into our community.”
For more information, to register for a program or to volunteer for the GED or ESL program, contact the Beacon of HOPE at 283-5123.