Service learning is a program or a learning approach that is used by organizations or by learning institutions. The process puts together the knowledge students acquire in class and that which they get from their surroundings. These two areas of knowledge accessibility are combined in solving the problems that society has. The main aim of service learning is to impact the society positively or bring positive change to the community. This approach is achieved through volunteering to take part in community activities, participating in internships and participating in community service (American Psychological Association, n.d). On the other hand, civic engagement is the action taken by individuals or groups of people to find out the problems affecting the general public and hence look for possible solutions. The main aim of civic engagement is to address the concerns of the public and in turn improve the quality of life of community members (Jacoby, 2014). Learning institutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations have embraced these two approaches in meeting the needs of the society and the public as a whole. “Literacy Connections of Wayne County” is one of the nongovernmental organizations that are determined in solving illiteracy problems in Wayne County (Literacy Connections of Wayne County, n.d). This paper will discuss in detail about the community organization.
Literacy Connections of Wayne County is a non-governmental and non-profit organization whose primary aim is to enhance the literacy levels of adults in Wayne County. The initiative was started based on a survey that had been conducted earlier in the area to estimate the adult literacy levels. It was found that out of four adults, only one was able to read above the 3rd-grade level and most of them did not go beyond the 9th-grade level. In addition, most of the revenue was lost because of the illiteracy levels. On this note, some of the scholars in the County came together and started the organization to help enhance the literacy levels. The initiative targets zero illiteracy levels in within the community. To achieve the objective, the team calls upon volunteers and educational institutions to assist in teaching the adults on various subjects. Adults who are interested in improving their literacy levels to better their living standards are always welcomed to join the various programs and realize their dreams.
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The subjects taught or the areas covered by the organization include reading where adults are taught how to read, basic mathematics, computer skills, how to deal with financial issues, how to communicate in English, issues cutting across the youth and their families, life skills and laboratory techniques. With these various programs, Literacy Connections has seen over 900 adults in Wayne County be literate and acquire competencies in the different fields.
To achieve its objectives, the organization has partnered with various learning institutions and other non-profit organizations to ensure it achieves its set goals and objectives. The organization has partnered with the Wayne County Museum, Boys and Girls Clubs of Wayne County and Episcopal Churches of Goldsboro. Also, the initiative can also go further and partner with the various associations formed within colleges, universities, and community as a whole. From these partnerships, the initiative able to get volunteers who will be able to take the many adults through different programs. Furthermore, for the organization to reach out to more people, they can also create more branches in various counties to ensure that more adults, not only those within Wayne County are educated (Prentice, 2007).
Literacy Connections of Wayne County faces challenges cutting across culture and humanitarian issues. Within an organization, people realize that they have different communication skills, conflict resolving techniques, attitudes, completion of tasks, openness, confidentiality and the ability know. To avoid conflicts, the initiative ensures that an individual’s culture is respected and people look for ways of working in harmony with one another. Commitment to an individual’s task or duty is key to avoiding conflicts (DuPraw &Axner, 2007). In addition, the program enrolls people who are interested and does not force anyone because the method encourages attitude towards the program. On the other hand, the program does not discriminate anyone provided they are above the age of 18 years. It also teaches individual’s based on their area of interest or their talent. A person is allowed to pursue the subject area they feel they are best at. These various methods used prevent any cross-cultural matters and humanitarian problems that are expected to arise in any organization.
Apart from the humanitarian and cross-cultural challenges that the team is facing. It stands a chance of facing some opposition from politicians. The program has been rolled out in Wayne County and only admits members of the county. Some of the political leaders from other counties might find it discriminative and hence built up an opposition towards it. To avoid this problem, the initiative needs to start up branch programs in other counties because I believe some adults might be interested in such an excellent course.
The program is run with the help of volunteers who take up several roles especially in teaching the adults. The major objective for volunteers is to make the changes intended to happen. For one to be enrolled as a volunteer, they should be 18 years and above, be a member of the Wayne County Community, be educated, that is, have a high school or college certificate, speak English as their first language and be able to commit two hours of his or her time every week. To complete the process of becoming a volunteer, one should be able to contact a Literacy Connection’s staff, fill out an application form. After being shortlisted, the volunteers are taken through some training sessions to prepare them as tutors (Literacy Connections of Wayne County, n.d).
The volunteers have several roles that they are expected to fulfill. These functions include; helping out in the various labs with laboratory activities, contribute in organizing events, take up various roles and help out in the office activities, contribute to teaching the different group involving individual tutoring and group tutoring. Furthermore, the volunteers assist in teaching the several financial skills that a person requires in their day to day life.
The volunteers are not paid in cash, but they get more than what money would buy. They get the opportunity to meet different stakeholders and network. Networking is important because to opens one to the entire world and the opportunities that await them. Secondly, one also gets a chance to improve on their resume and experience. The organization offers the opportunity to gain more experience in his or her area of specialization. Experience makes it easier for one to secure employment. The most important part of volunteering is that one gets to give back to the society. In so doing, it helps improve the quality of life of different people within the community or society. Apart from gaining personal and community growth, the program offers volunteers a very flexible schedule and only one is needed to secure two hours in a week (Literacy Connections of Wayne County, n.d).
Literacy Connections targets to attain zero adult illiteracy levels in Wayne County. It offers training to anyone who is interested in the program provided they are members of the Wayne Community and is above the age of 18years. It encourages young professionals to take up different duties in working towards their vision. In addition, the program has dedicated workers who strive to ensure that Wayne County achieves zero adult illiteracy levels and ensure it has adults with adequate knowledge in different areas. In addition, apart from attaining the zero adult illiteracy, the program gives an opportunity to the young professionals to attain more skills and experience in their different areas of expertise.
Literacy Connections of Wayne County is an organization that is focused towards improving the living standards of the people of Wayne County. To achieve this vision, there are several improvements that the program needs to initiate regarding technology, politics, education and their rules and regulations. Regarding technology, the program needs to find an easy way of registering the volunteers. The technological world has changed drastically, and I believe the application forms can be accessed easily through the internet. The program can put up the forms on their website so that anyone interested in joining the program, be it a learner or a volunteer, can access and apply. In addition, the program will also have an easy way of recruiting them (Einfield & Collins, 2008).
The rules and regulations that the program has in place primarily the restriction for members and its geographical boundaries need to be adjusted. Literacy Connections is a great program that needs to reach many adults or illiterate people. The Program needs to go further into other counties and introduce the program. One of the ways they can do it is by training several stakeholders on the means of starting the programs in their counties. Awareness makes it easier for them to initiate and expand the program to most people. Expansion of the program is also a barrier to political opposition that can face the initiative.
Personally, I have the opportunity to contribute positively to the organization and in turn get the experience and skills needed in my life as a professional. I can help in tutoring the different subjects like mathematics and computer skills offered. In addition, I can assist in the organization of the different events and activities organized by the program. The services I will provide to the organization will contribute towards achieving the zero adult illiteracy levels in Wayne County.
References
DuPraw, M.E. &Axner, M. (2007). Working on Common Cross Cultural Communication Challenges. Retrieved February 7, 2017 from http://www.pbs.org/ampu/crosscult.html
Definition of Service Learning. (n.d). Office of Civic Engagement and Service Learning. Retrieved February 7, 2017 from http://www.uncfsu.edu/civic-engagement/service-learning/definition-of-service-learning
Jacoby, B. (2014). Civil Engagement in Higher Education: Moving from Transaction to Transformation for Students and Communities. 1-33
American Psychological Association. (n.d). Civic Engagement and Service Learning. Retrieved February 7, 2017 from http://www.apa.org/education/undergrad/community-service.aspx
Prentice, M. A. (2007). Service Learning and Civic Engagement. Nature Research . Springer International Publishing Agency. 20(2):135-145
Einfield, A. &Collins, D. (2008). The Relationship between Service-Learning, Social Justice, Multicultural Competence and Civic Engagement. 49(20):95
Literacy Connections of Wayne County (n.d). Retrieved February 7, 2016 from http://www.literacyconnectionsofwaynecounty.org/volunteers
Literacy Connections of Wayne County (n.d). Retrieved February 7, 2017 from http://www.literacyconnectionsofwaynecounty.org
Literacy Connections of Wayne County (n.d). Retrieved February 7, 2017 from http://www.literacyconnectionsofwaynecounty.org/bank-on-wayne
Social Science and Civic Engagement. (2017). Retrieved February 7, 2017 from http://cps.edu/ServiceLearning/Pages/ServiceLearning.aspx
