Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following people and institutions for their help in bringing this research project to fruition:

The National Literacy Secretariat and the BC Ministry of Advanced Education, through the Adult Literacy Cost-Shared Program, funded the research portion of the project. At the same time, the Vancouver Foundation funded a two-year, capacitybuilding project through the WISH Learning Centre, which enhanced the research initiative. We also want to appreciate VanCity Savings for providing two smaller grants that helped initiate extra activities during the project.

Marina Nik, the Research Friend to the Literacy Field provided us with support and a firm structure as we embarked upon this collaborative research project. Judy Rose and Sarah Evans (Capilano College), Betsy Alkenbrack (UBC Doctoral Student and WISH Volunteer), Adrienne Macallum (WISH Volunteer and Participant) and Kate Gibson (WISH Drop In Centre Society) all provided important and thoughtful feedback on the research report.

We would like to appreciate the Community Development and Outreach Department at Capilano College, North Vancouver, BC, particularly Pat Hodgson for her continuous support of this project and Brenda Briscoe for her careful copy editing.

In addition to the difficult task of operating a crisis centre for female sex-trade workers, the WISH Drop In Centre Society Board, Staff and Volunteers provided regular support to the literacy program. Without the daily work of the drop in, no other programs would be possible at WISH. We thank you all for your ideas, information and encouragement.

Most of all, we want to honour all the women at WISH who participated in the WISH Learning Centre and the research project. We want to thank each of you for your curiosity, your courage, your risk-taking, your willingness to create a positive learning environment and your generosity in sharing these concepts with women across the country.

Published by Capilano College
2003