In my last column, I spoke about "Partnerships" and how important they are when it comes to obtaining funding. There are different types of funding available.
The federal government administers Literacy funding through the National Literacy Secretariat (NLS). There are three programs to which you may apply. The TAGS Literacy Program is directed at TAGS clients, their families, and their communities; The Federal Provincial Cost-Shared Program is open to all literacy groups within the province; and the third is The Literacy Corps ,geared towards youth who are 15 to 24 years and out of school. The Literacy Corps also supports youth tutor training and preventive intervention, particularly for "at risk" students.
For more information contact:
Adrian Papanek National Literacy Secretariat Human Resources Development Canada Ottawa, ON KlA 1K5 Telephone: (819) 953-5280 On the provincial scene, the Literacy Development Council provides funding to literacy groups. Information concerning eligible activities, applications, and assistance in preparing proposals can be obtained by contacting the Literacy Development Council.
Information about other funding opportunities, such as the Canadian Give the Gift of Literacy Foundation and the Neil Squire Foundation, is also available from the Literacy Development Council. When looking to agencies for funding, it helps to be innovative. I would encourage you to seek non-traditional funding sources. Seek information from all other funding on federal programs. For more information contact Reference Canada at 1-800-667-3355.
if you have an idea for a literacy project, feel free to contact any of the agencies listed above to see if your idea meets their criteria. If it does, great, but if it doesn't, they may be able to suggest other avenues for your project.
Right On! That's probably the best way to describe the latest promotional literacy campaign by Westviking College and the Gateway Community Development Corporation. The two groups have joined forces to produce a 30-minute video on literacy. Newfoundland funnyman, Snook, will host the production which will be broadcast throughout the province.
The purpose of the video is to expose the stigmatism associated with being labelled illiterate.
"While people can take courses at local colleges and through Laubach Literacy, people do not take advantage of the opportunities because of the stigmatism of being labelled illiterate," says Lawrence Karasek, production supervisor."
Snook will add a touch of humour to the real-life stories of people who returned to school. Entertainment Unlimited was hired to shoot the video. Taping was done in Hodge's Cove, Clarenville, Shoal Harbour, Gander and Norris Arm The video was funded through the National Literacy Secretariat.
The John Howard Society works to reduce crime by providing program opportunities for the rehabilitation of offenders. With financial assistance from the Literacy Secretary Directorate, it has implemented the Computer-Based Literacy Program. Since education is known to reduce recidivism, the John Howard Society has developed a unique strategy that expands existing education services.
The overall goal of the program is to raise the levels of basic literacy, academic upgrading, and job skills of inmates and ex-offenders.
Volunteers are the key to the success of the program. They provide literacy services that would not be otherwise available to clients. Computers are used as powerful teaching tools in basic literacy.
The John Howard Society has developed successful partnerships with agencies providing and supporting literacy services including Laubach Literacy and various Literacy Councils. Creating links for our clients to existing community agencies gives them the opportunity for ongoing support when they are reintegrated into the community.
For more information on the Computer-Based Program, please contact the Literacy Coordinator at (709) 643-6775.
