Literacy is the backbone of a functioning democracy.
In accord with that principle, Vancouver based Rotarians Barj Dhahan and Jaswant Bains are spearheading an initiative that targets newer immigrants who are lagging behind in reading skills.
The Rotary Club (Fraserview) has donated $10,000 to a new, multi-year literacy partnership with John Oliver Secondary School to promote reading skills at the high school and in the Sunset neighbourhood community of schools.
The new, multi-year partnership will strengthen the Wonder of Reading program which was launched in 2013. The program injected a new energy for reading engagement in the school and community with its many in-house and outreach programs.
John Oliver’s diverse student population is largely composed of residents of the Sunset catchment which has traditionally been a landing area for immigrant families.
With new Canadians making up a large proportion of its student population, literacy and English language comprehension remain a challenge at the high school.
Many students entering grade 8 in John Oliver have literacy and numeracy levels that are below standard. As a result these students struggle to keep up and advance their education.
“The program takes high school students and educators into the homes of these families,” said Dhahan, a Vancouver based businessman. “They bring books and mentor the elementary school children and talk with parents about the importance of encouraging their children to read.”
“Many of these children come from immigrant families where many parents have had less than grade 10 education and they are trying make ends meet holding two or three jobs. So the children often don’t get the support they need in elementary years,” explained Dhahan.
The Rotary Club motto is “Service before self”. The organization’s various chapters across BC support numerous community initiatives through a myriad of philanthropic endeavours.
For more information on the Fraserview club, go to www.vancouverrotaryclubs.com