THE LAUBACH MOVEMENT

In the late 1920s, Frank Laubach, a young Congregational missionary began working among the Moros, a Muslim tribe on the Philippine island of Mindanao.

Their language, Maranaw, had never been written. Dr. Laubach devised a system of writing their language using our Roman alphabet. Maranaw proved to be a simple language with only four vowel sounds and twelve consonant sounds.

Dr. Laubach discovered the value of key words to help students in identifying sounds, and made a series of charts using a key word and a picture for each sound. The Moros learned to read and write in a couple of weeks. He soon had a corps of paid teachers teaching others in their own and other villages.

Then came the 1930's and with it, the Depression. Dr. Laubach's missionary funds were cut off and he sadly told the Moros he had no more money. The literacy campaign would have to stop.

The chief of the Moros wanted his people to be able to read and write. He stated his solution in words that no one could misunderstand: "I'll make everybody who knows how to read teach somebody else-or I'll kill him!" No one died. In fact, a method of education was set in motion that worked very well. From the chief's words (but in a gentler spirit) Dr. Laubach took the phrase that soon became the motto of Laubach Literacy: "Each One Teach One".

This method spread to other countries.

Even before Dr. Laubach left the Philippines, his fame as an "Apostle to the Illiterates" spread and his services were sought by missionary and government agencies. Travelling for almost forty years, he developed his methodology in 313 languages and dialects in 105 countries, working with native-speaking teams wherever he went. An estimated sixty million people have learned to read and write in their own languages, thanks to Dr. Laubach's efforts.

The method has been quite similar, regardless of the language. Each letter is taught by associating the shape of the letter with an object of similar shape. Dr. Laubach calls the pictures "visual puns".

In 1955 his program became incorporated in what is now known as Laubach Literacy International. Dr. Frank died in 1970. His son, Dr. Robert Laubach, has carried on his work and is a member of the LLC Board of Directors.

LAUBACH LITERACY OF CANADA

Laubach Literacy has been based in Canada since the first tutor-training workshop was held in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, in 1970. The councils that were formed over the next few years were all located in the eastern provinces, and were under the direction of the National Affiliation for Literacy Advance (NALA) in the U.S.A. By 1980, Canada had over forty councils reaching as far west as Alberta.

In June 1981, Laubach Literacy of Canada was born. It was hoped that our own national organization would be able to address Canadian literacy needs, such as publishing Canadian materials, etc. From June 1981 to June 1982, a transition year, dual membership with NALA and LLC was maintained. On June 5th, 1982, NALA was dissolved, becoming two separate entities- Laubach Literacy of Canada (LLC) and in the USA, Laubach Literacy Action (LLA). Both LLC and LLA are affiliates of Laubach Literacy International (LLI).

LLC is divided into provincial structures. There are Laubach councils in every province in Canada and in the Yukon (151 councils, April 2001).

VISION

Laubach Literacy of Canada is a key part of a national effort to help all people reach their full literate potential.

MISSION

Laubach Literacy of Canada is a national non-profit volunteer organization. We are committed to raising the literacy level of Canadian society. Our trained tutors work with people to improve their basic and functional skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening, numeracy and other life skills. Our programs are adapted to the goals of the student. Materials and organizational support are available through local Laubach councils.