The Lung Association has a slogan that suggests ‘if you can’t breathe, nothing else matters’. Similarly, when it comes to finding meaningful employment to support yourself and your family, ‘if you can’t read, nothing else matters’.
A lot of people who are able to read and write often take literacy for granted, but there’s no question: life, and work, can be a real struggle for the illiterate.
That’s why an organization like the Valley Community Learning Association (VCLA) plays such an important role in our community.
We may only notice the VCLA and its efforts once a year in the spring, when the group holds its annual Literacy Mile fundraiser, but the group works hard all year to encourage literacy and to help adults achieve their personal learning goals.
Beginning in 1989 as the Kings County Learning Association but now covering Kings and Annapolis Counties, the VCLA provides a forum for learners, community groups, instructors, tutors, publicly-funded agencies and businesses to enhance the literacy levels of community members and new immigrants in Kings and Annapolis Counties.
In addition to its hands-on work, arguably one of the biggest roles of VCLA is to bring together all of the resources available for those with literacy problems or challenges in one place, allowing them to be accessed more easily.
Just as important is the fact that VCLA is governed by a volunteer board of directors.
At this year’s Literacy Mile May 4 in Kentville, the VCLA inaugurated two awards in memory of Bill and Lucille Owen. Bill, a former Kentville resident, and his wife Lucille dedicated much of their life’s volunteer work to lobbying for the inclusion of people with disabilities and securing social justice through public policy.
The awards are to be presented annually to two Valley residents who best exemplify dedication to and excellence in adult learning.
Learners may have demonstrated this excellence either in group programs conducted by or under the umbrella of VCLA, or as part of its one-on-one tutoring programs.
You can help VCLA by offering to be a volunteer tutor, a board member, helping out with fundraising efforts like the Literacy Mile, or by making a donation, either financial or in-kind, to support its activities. For more information, visit
www.vcla.ca.Unfortunately, illiteracy still exists in our society, but thanks to the good work being done by the VCLA, there may one day come a time – which is hopefully getting closer – when it will become a thing of the past.
