National Adult Literacy Database

November 17, 2008

This week, we have a story written by Kadiatu Dumbuya, from Yellowkfnife, Northwest Territories. Kadiatu is the 2007 winner of the premier's Council of the Federation Literacy Award. Her education was frequently interrupted because of the civil war in her home community of Freetown, Sierra Leone. After spending a year and a half in Ghana awaiting immigration to Canada, Kadiatu and her family arrived in the Northwest Territories in 2000. In Yellowknife, Kadi first had to overcome a language barrier. She took English as a Second Language courses and then attended the Adult Literacy and Basic Education program at Aurora College. In three years, Kadi progressed from entry level to Nursing Access, which she will complete this year.

Why do you think learning is important?

by Kadiatu Dumbuya

I think learning is important because if you have an education you can have independence and its an everlasting thing. Nobody can take it from you.

That's really true eh. People can take your possessions but they can't take your education.

You have to devote yourself to your learning and you have to have a goal, like oh I really want to achieve it at the end of the year. If you make a goal and you set up a plan, then I believe you can reach the goal.

And you have to work very hard and dedicate yourself to your study and believe that you can do it and no matter what happens you can do it.

I think education is important. If you want to go to school you should continue with your education. You don have to be like "Oh I'm to old to go to school." You have to be determined and believe that you can do it.

If I can do it you can do it.

[This story was taken with permission, from The Northern Edge, Issue 6 (2008) published by NWT Literacy Council. This online newspaper contains stories by learners, as well as articles about the North.]