by Deb Calderon

Every week, Marian meets Rita for over an hour. Few would guess these two women know each other, much less that their project is making a difference in both lives. 



Marian is an adult learner in Powell River, Rita her volunteer tutor, in the CALL program launched last November  (Community Adult Literacy & Learning). They get right down to work in a private office at the Community Resource Centre on Joyce Avenue. Marian wants to read well enough to help her kids with their homework. She’s making great progress.



There’s been a Volunteer Tutoring program at Vancouver Island University for years. Last year the CALL program was initiated to let tutors and learners work out in the community as well. Placing the program in community settings, where more people feel comfortable, would make the program more accessible. 


Rita signed up for the Volunteer Adult Literacy Tutor (VALT) training course held at VIU last year. VALT and CALL together train all the volunteers. Some might end up tutoring at VIU; some in the community. (Although VIU and CALL collaborate, CALL is administered by a non-profit society.)



At first, Rita was unsure about her ability to help another adult learn a new skill. After all, she wasn’t a teacher. All she could offer was a love of reading and belief in life-long learning.  



“I had some reservations at first, but in taking the course, I found that tutoring isn’t teaching; it’s sharing life experiences and interests in support of another adult learner who wants to overcome a literacy barrier.”



Volunteers are the backbone of tutoring programs. The main requirements are comfort with reading English and a desire to help another adult. Powell River’s tutors are a creative bunch, coming up with games, exercises, activities and field trips customised to their learners.  

Rita adds that she, herself, gets a lot out of tutoring. “It is definitely a two-way street.  I have learned how much fun it is to sit down one-on-one with my learner, and identify how to tackle that literacy challenge in a creative, effective way. Tutoring has also taught me that it is possible for one person to make a real and positive difference, on an individual and community level.” 



CALL tutoring is free to Canadian citizens or permanent residents 18 and over. The program is totally confidential. Tutors and learners meet in various locations, such as the Community Resource Centre, a private room in a bookstore, and other places around town.


Demand for is growing and the program needs more volunteers. The free training consists of seven weekly evening meetings at VIU. Tutors learn about topics such as how adults learn, what constitutes basic reading, writing, and math, how to set up a tutoring session, and how to access online resources. These evenings are fun and hands-on, full of lively discussion. After the training, three additional exciting sessions carry on the learning and help tutors stay in touch.


Helen, one of our tutors last year, says, “I would recommend that everyone interested in helping take the training. The instructors are just super ladies. I came away with so much more information than I had expected.”



Ever wondered if tutoring is for you? Why not give it a try? Make a difference in another person’s life, in the future of Powell River and in your own personal growth. You’ll be glad you got involved.


To know more about CALL, call Deb Calderon at 604 413-1021.

*Names are fictitious.
*CALL is funded by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development and administered by the Powell River Employment Program Society.