Who we are:Established in 1986, Project Central Okanagan Society is a charity providing free, high-quality literacy support for individuals in the Central Okanagan, British Columbia. We are a volunteer supported organization, with over 120 dedicated volunteer tutors. We provide the following literacy programs and services:
- One to one tutoring support for low-income adults (English and math)
- One to one reading support for children in grades 1-4
- Literacy support for immigrant families with young children (2-5 years)
- Digital literacy support to vulnerable seniors
Who we help:
Those new to Canada who want to improve their literacy skills to successfully integrate into the workforce and Canadian culture; young Canadian adults who are struggling to meet English program requirements for college or university; or, middle-aged or older Canadians who find themselves displaced from jobs and who need to upgrade their literacy levels in order to retain employment.
School age children in grades 1-4, who are struggling to gain necessary reading skills before they get to grade five.
Families with young children (ages 2-5) from immigrant or low-income backgrounds who need to help their children develop basic literacy skills (counting, rhyming, word identification and meaning) so they can do well in Kindergarten.
Isolated seniors who want to become more literate with technology and social media in order to stay connected with their family and friends.
Why literacy is important:
Our communities are improved and our society benefits when individuals, children and families have strong literacy skills. Good literacy skills open the doors to more employment opportunities and advanced education. Adults and families are better able to avoid slipping into poverty and can improve their living conditions when they have good literacy skills.