WORDS CAN CHANGE WORLDS
Many thanks to Lenore Fogel, one of our Shine Prestwich volunteers, who had a letter published last week in the Atlantic Sun.
As a direct result of this letter we had at least three new potential volunteers this week for orientation. I have published the letter earlier, but I think it is worth revisiting. I am waiting for a photo of Lenore to put up on the site, if she will allow it!
You, the volunteers, are the engine of this project... without you, there would be no Shine. We would love to hear from all of you: any little anecdotes that you would like to share with us.
These story threads are what make up the Shine tapestry. By relating these rich tales, we can continue to share the ethos that makes Shine unique.
The Shine Center is a “literacy program to support children at English-speaking inner city schools whose first language is not English…”
Personally, it also happens to be my favorite of the many volunteer programs in which I have been involved. I could go on for hours about the satisfaction of working with the beautiful children at the Center and seeing their smiles and excitement, but it would pale in comparison to the reality! Instead, I want to tell you why I feel SHINE is so volunteer friendly and allows such opportunity to bring achievement to these children. The SHINE center program combines simplicity with a measurable, impressive success rate. (Grade 3 literacy in a SHINE school rose from 50% in 2002 to 82.7% by 2008. This is the direct result of people like you and me who volunteer.)
When looking to volunteer, I had two requirements. I wanted a clearly defined role; and one that would allow me to have a lasting impact on someone’s life. This is SHINE in a nutshell.
The SHINE training program, in a step by step process, broke down for me exactly how to fill the literacy hour with my learner. I was given tools and the skills to implement the tools, in clear, “user friendly” detail. I knew from the very start that I would not be wondering aimlessly what on earth I should be doing next.
Following the training, when I received my school placement, the support and structure of the program continued. The school’s SHINE center director provided me with a detailed orientation at the center. I then spent two sessions observing other volunteers in hands-on interaction with their learners. I was able to get a sense of the rhythm and flow of the sessions before jumping in myself. Even now while I am working with “my own” learners, the center director is always available on site to offer support, suggestions and answer any questions I may have. She brings the children to the center and takes them back to class, alleviating any concern I might have of interrupting the classroom teacher or getting confused as to where the child’s classroom is.
The support and structure of SHINE, combined with the flexibility of location and days/hours to volunteer, make it possible for any English speaking adult who loves children to be a successful SHINE learning partner. Imagine that even if you only have an hour and a half a week to give, it is enough for YOU to change a child’s life. The only question that remains is how anyone can pass up this opportunity to SHINE!
Lenore Fogel, MSW
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