LLC'S PEER YOUTH TUTOR
PROGRAM LLC's Peer Youth Tutor Program is a volunteer program run within a school or a community centre. The tutors are volunteers, those who are tutored choose to participate and the trainer and the coordinator are usually volunteers. It is a win/win situation for all concerned. The Peer Youth Tutor program was born in 1990 in New Brunswick. Renee Herron, an enthusiastic Laubach volunteer, is the founding mother, along with the assistance of Wendy Seys from Laubach's Development Office in Bedford. McAdam High School in McAdam, NB was the site of the first Peer Youth Tutor Club with Renee Herron as a very active in-school coordinator. Following a very successful first year, Wendy Seys wrote A Guide to Setting up a Peer Youth Tutor Club, an excellent document that is still used by all new sites. By 1993, there were fourteen sites up and running in four provinces. 1995 marked the year that Renee Herron won the Youth Initiatives Award from the New Brunswick government. In the same year, a PYT Clubs' page was added to Literacy Connections for contributions from Peer Youth Tutor Club members, with great results, giving visibility to this ever-growing program. By 1998 the number of Clubs had grown to 40, spanning 6 provinces plus one in the Yukon. In 1999, the idea of a visible sponsor became a reality. With the help of Newfoundlander Karen Smith from the Development Office, the Celtic Rock group Great Big Sea was contacted. Many tense moments passed, but as we all know now, they agreed. The process of producing bookmarks and posters was immediately put into action and before too long Great Big Sea was helping promote literacy to youth across the country. Not too far into the year 2000, Karen Smith, our faithful Newfoundlander, informed us all at the Development Office that Great Big Sea (GBS) was coming to Cowansville (20 kms from the office) to perform in a festival during the month of July. The excitement was palpable, as we wanted to be able to thank the group in person for their support. After many hours of arranging, The Big Night arrived-we awaited, with much anticipation, their arrival backstage. We met them just prior to their performance, but with enough time to chat, get some really great photos and some of our posters signed. Yes, we felt like groupies, but with a cause! On stage, GBS thanked Laubach for the great presentation of GBS on the bookmark and poster. Over 10,000 bookmarks have been distributed across Canada to date.
Well, back down to Earth now …, but on to more good news. The PYT web site was launched on International Literacy Day 2000. Many responses and requests for information have come through the page; some have led to setting up new sites, for instance, the three that are currently running in the Northwest Territories contacted Laubach through the PYT web page. In April of this year, seventeen PYT club members from 8 provinces were sponsored by Laubach to attend the National Youth Conference in Summerside, PEI, a very enriching experience for all concerned. It is the youth volunteers who have made the PYT program what it is-a great success. Each one can feel assured that they have helped make a positive change in someone's life. Thank you! |
