National Adult Literacy Database

Planning is continuing for this year's symposium hosted by Literacy Alberta and the Community Learning Network. The dates are October 27-30, 2010 with a full program that includes two pre-symposium workshops and over 60 workshops to choose from.

Online registration will be available by the end of July.

Literacy Alberta will be offering bursaries to adult literacy learners and volunteer literacy tutors again this year. The bursaries will offset the costs of registration, accommodation and travel to attend the symposium. Please contact office@literacyalberta.ca for more information or to receive the application form.

Here's what one literacy learner wrote after receiving a bursary for the 2009 Symposium: "This was a way of learning new ideas and making new friends, seeing old friends all the while staying at the very nice Red Deer Lodge. I wish to thank Literacy Alberta for giving me the chance to learn and for funding the trip.

The sessions that I took gave me a different perspective on what I was thinking about my life. This is what I needed to make my life more interesting and to be more compassionate towards others. I think the best session that I had while at the conference was Igniting Resilience.

While talking and learning at this session, I heard a beautiful song. The name of the person who sang this song is Justin Heize. The song gave me the goose bumps. The name of the song is Say What You Will. Mr. Heize is in a wheel chair but (that) did not stop him. I took away from that session no matter what happens in your life, never, never, never give up.

I hope that I get to go next year because this symposium was very enlightening and also helps you to grow to be a better person”.

Written by Zorina Thomas

Source : Share Alberta (Literacy Alberta), July 6, 2010