An organization for lifelong learning
Literacy in Action (LIA) is a collaborative non-profit organization that works with a variety of partners within the community, health and social service sector and educational institutions across the Estrie Region. Our goal is to assist in the design and delivery of resources and services that bring essential literacy skill development to life.
From one-to-one tutoring to community-based learning activities, Literacy in Action is not just an organization for people who can’t read or write. We are a volunteer-driven organization for people who want access to English-speaking environments with an educational twist.
With the help of a small staff, partners and volunteers, our programs and activities run throughout the Estrie region to promote literacy skills and encourage lifelong learning.
We use the Laubach approach, known as Each One-teach One. This means we have learners who are also volunteer tutors, it simply depends on the day and learning goals of the participant. All of this is thanks to citizens in local regions who volunteer their time to share their skills, along with LIA staff who support them with resources and guidance as needed.
Over the past few years we have been exploring how to create interactive and hands-on learning activities to foster essential literacy skill development. Here are a few of our collaborative programs that seek to offer a place for Englishspeaking folks 16 years and older and families.
Books to Belly! is a literacy-oriented cooking activity for parents and caregivers with children 5-12 years old. With the help of 2 animators, families are invited to join us to read a selected story that features food, and then cook a recipe inspired by book.
Arts & Scraps for Families in Stanstead
This Fall we brought our Arts & Scraps program back to Stanstead in collaboration with Sunnyside Elementary’s CLC. It is a time for families to hang out together, use new and recycled material to make art and get to know the new CLC and LIA’S direct one-to-one services.
Computer Literacy Tutoring
LIA'S peer tutoring is in full swing! Some community volunteers as well as students from Richmond Regional High School and Bishop's College School have recently been trained as Digital Literacy tutors. This initiative matches a learner who needs help with their computer, laptop or tablet with a tutor who volunteers their time to gently guide you, stepby-step, to becoming more at ease with your digital device.
Maybe you need help with e-mail or want some hints for searching the internet, or just want to manage your photos more efficiently - we have a volunteer tutor to help you! For more information, contact Kendra Parnell at info@lia-estrie.org or give us a call
Project HELP
Last year the CIUSSS de l’estrie - CHUS asked LIA to partner with them in a pilot project. Many CIUSSS employees (nurses, technicians, administrative staff, etc.) are taking online ESL courses and were looking for opportunities to practice their English skills, so LIA developed a project called HELP (Health services English Learners’ Program). We recruited anglophone volunteers to meet with the learners for an hour or so, on a weekly basis, for conversation and tutoring in English. It was a big success!
The project has started up again this Fall and we are being flooded with new requests from health service workers. More volunteer tutors are needed! If you have 60 - 90 minutes a week for English conversation to help health care workers improve their English skills and better serve anglophone patients, please write to Maggie.george@lia-estrie.org.
What is a Croque Livres?
Literacy in Action also sponsored Lennoxville’s own Croque Livres. The bright yellow box for take a book - leave a book is located just to the right of the Town Hall for easy access.
Help us spread the word, if you know someone who is interested in activities or would benefit from our one-to-one services in reading, writing or digital literacy, please let us know. Wishing you a cozy winter, From the team at Literacy in Action www.lia-estrie.org