The people who join the South Auckland Adult Literacy Trust’s education programme know they want to have a good job – but it’s a lack of literacy that’s holding them back.
 

 

The Trust’s director, Barbara Bishop, says many of its students are Pacific Islanders – natural leaders prevented from reaching their potential by limited English skills.
“It isn’t that we have many people who can’t read and write at all, but we do have a significant number of people who don’t have the skills to process information in order to participate in life as we know it,” she says.
And it’s not just those learning English as a second language who are overcoming their disadvantages. The courses include Maori and Pakeha who have the courage to step out of their comfort zone and ask for help.

 


Project participant Matalena Vitale receives her certificate from McAuley High School Principal Anne Miles.

“The spin-offs are huge,” Barbara says. “They begin to know they have a future, which brings choices, changes and freedom. They start to develop a long-term vision and, as their own education improves, they are able to go into the school and talk to the teachers without feeling threatened and intimidated.”
Being literate gives them the power to handle their own personal affairs; help their children with homework; gain a job that gives them satisfaction; a sense of achievement and the confidence and self-esteem to cope with whatever life throws at them.
The Trust runs free classes at Finlayson Park School, McAuley High School and in the Papatoetoe Community. With a maximum of 8-10 students in a class, tutors run courses in literacy, numeracy, driving licence training and basic computing. Te reo classes will begin this year, along with literacy classes at Papatoetoe Kindergarden, working with parents while their children are in kindy.
Volunteer tutors also work 1:1 throughout South Auckland with students who have particular literacy needs, including those who work and are unavailable at regular class times.
“Most of our adult students have failed at school, have not had the opportunity for education or have found school a negative, disempowering experience,” Barbara says.
During the Literacy Trust course the students support each other in their learning and, as their confidence grows, they find it so exciting to learn that many return for a second year.
From there, students can move on to tertiary education, or use their new literacy skills to apply for better jobs – with the Justice Department, for example, or a career in the Police.
“The excitement of this programe is in the challenge of meeting the needs of people from many different backgrounds and enabling them to find support and friendship in their own local community,” Barbara says. “Many people have natural leadership ability that is hidden by a lack of language skills. It is literacy that breaks the cycle of alienation and hopelessness.”
Contact Co-ordinator Jeanette Frankham on (09) 277 6562 or by email:

  • In December 2006 ASB Community Trust granted South Auckland Adult Literacy Trust $47,658 for running costs, including wages and teaching resources.